• 
;   ...•-: 


""--, : " 


*  '       •? 


CALIF.  LIBRARY,  LOS  ANGELES 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 


_ 

Fairy  and  her  Mistress 


VNf  "yf?  ^r?  ^^  *5T?7f 


Yours 
With  all  My  Heart 


AS   TOLD    BY   THE    BEAUTIFUL 
ITALIAN     GAZELLE-HOUND 

FAIRY 

By   ESTHER    M  .    BAXENDALE 


And  still,  wherever  than  art,  I  must  be, 
My  beautiful  I     Arise  in  might  and  mirth 

For  we  were  tireless  travelers  from  our  birth, 
Arise  against  thy  narrow  door  of  earth, 

And  keep  the  watch  for  me  !  " 

LOUISE  IMOGEN  GUINEY. 


BOSTON 

L.  C.  Page  &  Company 

1904 


Copyright  1904  by 

L.  C.   PAGE  &  COMPANY 

(INCORPORATED) 

All  rights  reserved 


Published  August  1904 


The  Plimpton  Press  Norwood  Mass. 


Those  loving  household  pets, 

JFlossie, 

jfairp, 

made    life    sweeter,    brighter,    and 

better  for  me,  and 

to  all  of  their  race,  the  world  over,  would 

I  sincerely  inscribe  these  true  stories, 

drawn  from  their  gentle  lives, 

and 

commend  them,  to  the  Little 

Children  whom,  they 

loved. 


2125896 


THIS    autobiography    of    Fairy   was 
undertaken  as  a  labor  of  love  and 
remembrance  for  her  beautiful  life, 
which  she  lived  among  us  with  such  sweet- 
ness and  grace   that  it  has  lain  upon    my 
conscience   to    tell   her   story   to   the    chil- 
dren, that  it  may  move  them  to  a  closer 
observance   of,   and   a   greater   compassion 
toward,  all  dumb    animals,   so   mutely  de- 
pendent upon  their  sympathies. 

And  in  all  little  Fairy's  experiences,  as 
well  as  those  of  other  dogs  which  she  cites, 
I  have  not  allowed  myself  to  depart  from 
the  truth;  my  whole  motive  has  been  to 
so  conscientiously  mirror  her  loving  life  of 
thirteen  years,  that  all  my  readers  may  know 
and  feel  that  they  are  perusing  true  annals. 
I  am  deeply  indebted  to  many  of  our 
noblest  poets  for  the  stanzas  I  have  so 
freely  drawn  upon;  and  especially  am  I  in- 
debted to  the  author  of  the  poem  dedicated 
to  the  closing  scene  of  that  gentle  life,  — 
"Fairy's  Requiem." 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Fairy  and  her  Mistress Frontispiece 

"  Turned  hastily  around  with  flushed  cheeks  " 3 

Fairy     7 

"  Then  I  took  the  neat  little  bonnet  in  hand" 23 

"High  over  the  dasher,  into  mamma's  arms!" 35 

"  The  big  hen  would  scold "   42 

"  Gyp  threw  his  weak,  weary  little  body  down  under 

the  birch" 52 

"With  a  glad,  half-wailing  cry  of  recognition  and 

relief"   65 

Babe    71 

"  The   monster   old   favorite,    with   his   tiny   escort, 

swaggered  by"   79 

"Brave  little  Frowzelly  .  .  .  sprang  to  the  rescue" .  .  93 

"Fixed  his  keen  eyes  again  on  Inez" 109 

The  Island  Home 139 

"I  would  sit  for  hours  in  the  rocking  rowboat" 140 

"Stalking  through  the  shallow  water"  141 

Fairy  and  her  little  Chum 145 

"Cousin  Elsie  stooped  down,  in  all  her  lovely  lace  and 

flowers  and  long,  fleecy  veil" 147 

"We  dipped  our  chubby  hands  into  the  great  bins".  151 
"Put  my  little  fore  paws  on  the  arm  of  her  vacant 

chair" 155 

"Away  off  in  the  sky-country" 157 

Don  and  Dora 160 

The  old  Wind-mill  165 

"7  was  duly  arrayed  in  it" 179 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

"  The  little  bluebirds  .  .  .  singing  their  sweetest,  glad- 
dest songs" 183 

"7  started  down  the  hill,  fast  as  my  fleet  little  feet 

would  carry  me" 187 

"All  ^l'>as  rout  and  confusion  "    201 

Owl 206 

"In  front  of  the  Hebe  of  the  fountain" 208 

"  The  poor  white  lady  who  stood  on  a  boat-load  of 

flowers"    209 

"/  would  .   .   .  rush  in  between  them"   211 

"  Tony  ivas  up  on  the  arm  of  his  chair"    219 

Foxy   225 

Little  Corea 231 

"  We  all  grew  to  love  the  pretty  little  creature  " 233 

"As  they  gathered  round  the  festive  sylvan  board" .  .  241 

Friends 245 

"Down  by  the  big  lily-pond" 248 

"7  would  overturn  the  old  shields  and  curios" 253 

"We  drifted  out  under  the  full  moon" 261 

"She  looks  at  me  with  such  great  pleading  eyes" .  .  .  267 

"7  crept  in  and  crossed  my  fore  paws" 271 

Old  Sportum 275 

Jimmy  and  his  Friends 280 

"Flitted  around  us"  .  .  .  . 283 

"7  flew  through  Aunt  Mary's  palms  and  ferns" .  .  .  285 

"I  sat  in  one  of  the  old  Damascus  chairs" 288 

"She  could  see  a  sad,  mysterious  something  in  my 

brown  eyes" 291 

"  The  blue  shimmering  sea" 293 

Old  Sportum  and  Donnie 298 

Fairy 299 

xii 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

"Look  out  on  the  lonely  sea" 301 

" Under  the  great  crimson-rambler" 302 

"  Welded  into  a  perfect  cross " 303 

"Into  the  Unknown  Country" 304 

"Laid  the  last  pale  roses  of  summer  on  that  little 

grave" 307 

"  Trilling  forth  so  close  beside  that  little  mound" .  .  .  309 

Head  of  Fairy 314 


Tours  With  All  My  Heart 


CHAPTER  I 

"I  LOOK  into  your  great  brown  eyes, 

Where  love  and  loyal  homage  shine, 
And  wonder  where  the  difference  lies 

Between  your  soul  and  mine! 
For  all  of  good  that  I  have  found 
Within  myself  or  human  kind, 
Hath  royally  informed  and  crowned 
Your  gentle  heart  and  mind." 

J.    G.   HOLLAND. 


IMOGENS,  what  do  you  think  of  this 
for  a  birthday  present?" 
My  new   master   stood   me   proudly 
down  in  the  midst  of  the  lively  group,  in 
the  big  family  sitting-room. 

-The  lady  addressed,  a  fair,  golden-haired 
young  woman,  was  trying  to  put  a  little 
chubby,  sweet-looking  baby,  with  pink 
fingers  and  toes,  down  on  the  carpet  too, 
but  he  held  up  his  little  dimpled  hands  and 
made  up  a  pitiful  face  every  time  she  tried 
to  take  her  hands  away. 

1 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"Oh,  dear,  dear  —  whatever  shall  I  do!" 
mother  Golden-Hair  was  just  exclaiming  to 
herself  as  the  master  came  through  the  door 
with  me.  She  looked  despairingly  from 
the  baby  to  another  sturdy  little  felllow  who 
could  barely  toddle,  and  who,  clutching  at 
the  lace  edge  of  the  table-cover,  brought  a 
china  vase  and  her  well-filled  work-basket 
all  down  with  a  crash,  while  the  toddler, 
buried  beneath,  added  his  lusty  voice  to  the 
swelling  chorus,  and  the  two  saucy  little 
black-and-tans  we  had  passed  on  the  lawn 
came  yapping  through  the  veranda  door, 
and  chased  the  rolling  spools  and  balls  about 
the  floor,  tangling  the  silks  and  delicate 
laces. 

I  wriggled  my  little  tail  and  my  little  self 
all  over,  at  being  thus  presented,  even  at 
this  unlucky  moment,  and  kissed  the  crying 
baby  on  his  sweet  pink  toes,  but  he  only 
screamed  the  more;  and  my  heart  gave  a 
great  thump,  then  almost  stood  still,  as 
mother  Golden-Hair  turned  hastily  around 
with  flushed  cheeks  and  her  big  blue  eyes 
full  of  tears  and  cried  out  at  sight  of  me : 

"  O,  John,  how  could  you  do  such  a 
thing  as  to  bring  me  home  another  puppy  ? 


"  Turned  hastily  around  with  flushed  cheeks.." 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

Here  I  am,  almost  distracted  with  babies 
and  dogs  already;  but  that's  just  like  a 
man!" 

"And  it's  just  like  a  woman  to  be  un- 
grateful when  a  man's  spent  his  money  to 
try  to  please  her;  and  never  get  so  much  as 
'thank  you'  for  it.  There  are  plenty  who 
would  be  glad  enough  to  get  such  a  beauti- 
ful little  creature,  and  you  ought  to  be!" 
retorted  my  new  master,  disappointed  at 
my  reception,  while  I  stood  trembling  at 
sound  of  their  voices  and  felt  I  was  un- 
welcome. 

I  looked  appealingly  to  him,  and  wagged 
my  slender  tail  feebly  and  timorously  now. 
He  had  called  me  a  'beautiful  little  crea- 
ture'; others  had  called  me  so  before,  with 
a  note  of  pity  in  their  voices,  and  I  wondered 
why.  Oh,  how  I  wished  I  could  run  away, 
back  to  my  own  dear  mamma,  if  I  could 
only  find  her  —  for  here  I  stood  rejected. 

But  mother  Golden-Hair  was  kind  and 
tender  at  heart;  she  dearly  loved  her  babies 
and  her  husband  and  the  little  black-and- 
tans,  Pansy  and  Skippum.  She  would  soon 
have  loved  me,  only,  poor,  tired  young 
mother,  in  a  world  of  fret  and  fuss  and 

5 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

fashion,  she  was  utterly  wearied  and  con- 
fused, and  couldn't  see  her  way  clear  that 
moment  to  properly  love  or  care  for  another 
little  live  thing. 

My  young  master  half  realized  this,  in 
his  man's  way,  as  he  looked  at  his  pretty 
girl  wife,  and  began  to  relent;  so  he  said 
more  kindly,  while  I  listened,  looking 
anxiously  from  one  to  the  other: 

''Well,  Imogene,  don't  feel  so  distressed 
about  it.  I  know  you  are  over-taxed,  but 
what  are  we  to  do  with  the  little  thing  ?  I 
am  not  going  to  take  her  back,  that's  cer- 
tain!" My  heart  sank;  I  would  never  see 
my  sweet  mamma  again. 

"Can  I  do  what  I  please  with  her?" 
asked  Golden-Hair,  wiping  away  her  tears. 

'Yes,  yes;  do  what  you  will  with  her, 
only  remember  that  it  will  be  some  time 
before  I  shall  try  to  bring  you  another 
present!"  but  he  accompanied  his  words 
with  a  forgiving  smile. 

I  wondered  what  would  become  of  me 
next,  when  the  young  mistress  arose  reso- 
lutely, and  throwing  a  bright  shawl  around 
her  girlish  figure,  took  me  under  her  arm, 
dangling  my  slender  length  adown  her  side, 
6 


Fairy 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

and  walked  out  of  the  cottage,  across  the 
lawn,  to  the  big  white  house  next  door. 

The  great  white  house  sat  back  from  the 
street,  and  shrubs  and  vines  gave  it  a 
homelike  air. 

Ting-a-ling-ling!  I  heard  the  bell  ring 
inside  the  hall,  as  the  young  woman  laid  her 
hand  on  the  bell-pull  with  an  air  of  nervous 
decision.  How  much  that  call  meant  for 
my  wreal  or  woe  I  knew  when  I  was  older 
and  wiser. 

I  heard  a  quick,  light  step,  and  the  door 
opened;  a  large,  fair  lady  stood  before  us, 
with  red  cheeks,  and  blue  eyes  that  looked 
kindly  down  upon  me,  as  I  kicked  and  wrig- 
gled, in  my  haste  to  enter;  she  was  dressed  in 
blue,  the  first  color  I  learned  to  know  and 
love,  for  they  called  it  my  color;  she  smiled, 
and  said  in  a  neighborly  way: 

"Come  in,  Imogene!  Where  did  you  get 
that  lovely  little  creature?" 

I  was  happy  at  sound  of  her  voice,  which 
was  low-keyed  and  soothing,  and  I  tried  to 
reach  over  to  kiss  her  plump  little  hand,  as 
it  rested  on  the  door.  There  was  a  jeweled 
ring  on  the  third  finger,  with  a  deep  blue 
stone,  set  around  with  white,  shining  ones 

9 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

that  sparkled  like  dew-drops;  I  could  just 
reach  the  ring  with  my  long,  slim  tongue, 
and  kissed  it. 

"Oh,    no,   Stella,"    answered   the  young 
woman,  "I  can't  come  in,  —  I  have  left  the 
babies  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  --  there's 
no  knowing  what  they'll  get  into  next,  - 
and  what  do  you  suppose  I  have  come  for  ?" 

"  I  don't  know,  I  am  sure  —  something  I 

can  do  for  you,  I  hope,"  and  Stella  laughed 

-  a  comforting  little  laugh,  as  she  caught 

the  note  of  weariness  in  the  young  mother's 

voice. 

"  Well,  John  Wakeman  has  brought  home 
this  poor  little  puppy,  and  I  am  half  dis- 
tracted already,  with  two  babies  that  can't 
walk,  two  black-and-tans,  and  two  girls  in 
the  kitchen,  who  refuse  point-blank  to  be 
bothered  with  anything,  and  I  expect  every 
day  will  go  and  leave  me!  And  Stella,  I've 
come  to  see  if  you'll  not  take  this  little  thing 
as  a  gift;  she  is  really  a  very  rare  and  val- 
uable dog.  I  know  you'll  be  kind  to  her, 
and  since  you  have  lost  Flossie,  and  given  up 
that  little  runaway  Babe  of  yours,  I  thought 
you  might  be  glad  to  have  her!" 

Golden-hair  caught  a  long,  anxious  breath, 
10 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

as  the  lady's  face  grew  serious,  and  she 
answered : 

"Why,  Imogene,  I  have  said,  over  and 
over,  that  I  must  not  learn  to  love  another 
dog.  I  am  not  situated  to  —  I  have  to  go  to 
an  office;  and  then,  worst  of  all,  it  is  such  a 
terrible  thing  to  learn  to  love  them,  and  then 
have  to  part  with  them!" 

All  this  time  I  was  squirming,  and  reach- 
ing out,  and  kissing  the  ring;  her  voice  woke 
love  in  my  heart,  and  I  began  to  whimper 
and  struggle  to  get  to  her.  1  had  not  learned 
words  enough  to  understand  all  she  said,  but 
I  knew  she  loved  and  pitied  every  poor 
little  helpless  thing,  like  me. 

"  O  Stella,  do  take  her!  you  haven't  got  a 
chick  nor  a  child,  and  you'll  take  lots  of 
comfort  with  her,  I  know  you  will  —  and 
it'll  be  such  a  relief  to  me!" 

"Well,  Imogene,  I'll  tell  you  what  I  will 
do,"  said  the  lady,  with  a  business  air.  "  I 
will  take  the  little  creature,  and  keep  her  for 
you  a  couple  of  weeks,  till  you  get  rested 
and  straightened  out,  and  then  you'll  want 
her  back  again;  we  will  leave  it  that  way." 

And  she  reached  out  her  plump  arms,  and 
r.  scrambled  up  on  her  broad  bosom,  hoping, 

11 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

praying,  it  might  be  for  always,  —  for  my 
little  heart  ached  with  not  being  wanted,  and 
nowhere  to  go,  and  I  hoped  no  little  pink- 
footed,  human  babies  ever  had  to  feel  so! 

"  Thank  you  ever  so  much,  Stella,  but  you 
can  be  sure  I  shall  not  come  after  her,"  came 
back  the  flying  answer,  as  Mrs.  Wakeman 
ran  hastily  down  the  steps  and  across  the 
lawn,  as  though  in  fear  of  my  non-accep- 
tance, under  broken  conditions. 

My  foster  mother  laughed  to  herself, 
closed  the  door  and  lightly  climbed  the 
stairs  with  me  to  her  chamber,  big  and 
sunny,  with  a  bower  of  green  plants  and 
their  bright,  cheery  blossoms  in  the  bay. 
I  could  feel  the  firm,  even  beating  of  her 
heart  beneath  my  little  body,  and  I  clung 
closer  and  eagerly  kissed  her  rosy  cheek  and 
poked  my  long,  pointed  nose  into  her  soft 
brown  hair. 

She  sat  down  with  me  in  the  rocker,  and, 
holding  me  off,  she  looked  a  long  time  into 
my  big  brown  eyes.  I  could  not  speak  a 
single  word  with  my  little  tongue,  but  I 
tried  to  speak  out  of  the  depths  of  my  shin- 
ing eyes,  and  tell  her  that  God  had  made  me 
to  love  and  comfort  his  poor  people! 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

I  tried  so  hard  to  speak,  it  seemed  as 
though  my  very  soul  was  in  my  eyes,  and 
she  must  have  understood,  for  she  gathered 
me  back  to  her  breast  again,  and  said  to 
herself,  not  firmly,  but  half  as  though  she 
were  praying,  "I  must  not,  must  not,  learn 
to  love  you!" 

But  I  said  in  my  little  fluttering  heart, 
14  You  shall  learn  to  love  me,  unless  you  are 
made  of  stone."  And  I  knew  she  was  not, 
better  than  any  big  man  could  know,  be- 
cause God  gives  us  poor  little  dogs  the 
power  to  look  right  in  at  people's  souls  in  a 
twinkling. 

"Those  wistful,  dark,  inquiring  eyes, 

So  fond  and  watchful,  deep  and  true, 
What  makes  the  thought  so  often  rise  — 
What  looks  those  crystal  windows  through  ?  " 
ELIZABETH  CHARLES. 

Just  then  a  gentleman  came  in  to  the  hall 
below,  and,  as  he  laid  by  his  coat  and  hat, 
he  hummed  in  a  rich  tenor  voice: 

"  Old  dog  Tray's  ever  faithful, 
Grief  cannot  drive  him  away ! "  — 

I  had  never  heard  any  singing  before,  — 
though  I  learned  to  love  it  afterward,  —  and 

13 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

I  pricked  up  my  ears,  for  I  knew  the  word 
"dog,"  and  knew  he  was  singing  about  us 
little  four-footed  folks. 

In  a  moment  he  called,  "Are  you  up 
there,  mother?" 

'*  Y-e-s!"  said  the  lady  thus  addressed  and 
sought  for,  although  she  was  his  wife,  and, 
with  a  little  mischievous  titter,  she  tiptoed, 
with  me  in  her  arms,  to  the  top  of  the  stairs, 
and  stood  me  there.  Then  she  drew  back 
hastily,  so  that  as  he  glanced  up  he  saw 
me  alone,  in  the  dim  crimson  light  of  the 
hall,  my  slim  tail  fairly  wagging  my  slender 
body,  my  great  dark  eyes  searching  his, 
and  my  red  tongue  kissing  at  him  through 
my  pearly  teeth,  while  my  little  feet  beat  a 
tattoo. 

"Well,  I'll  be  jinged!"  he  said,  and 
stopped  short;  then  advanced  laughing,  and 
playfully  pinching  at  my  slender  nose  as  he 
came  up  the  stairs.  I  backed  away  into  the 
sunny  chamber,  and  the  gentleman  followed, 
looking  in  astonishment  from  my  dancing, 
fawn-like  antics  to  the  lady's  face. 

"What  does  this  mean,  Stella?" 

"It  means  we've  had  a  present,"  said  the 
lady,  and  she  told  how  and  why  I  had 
14 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

come  upon  the  scene,  but  she  added,  rather 
irresolutely : 

"I  have  only  agreed  to  keep  her  a  couple 
of  weeks ;  I  told  Imogene  that  she  would  feel 
better  about  it  and  want  her  back  again  by 
that  time,  —  we  must  not  learn  to  love 
another  dog!" 

"No,  no,  —  we  must  not,"  responded  the 
florid  gentleman,  for  now  I  could  see  him  in 
the  sunlight.  He  was  rather  stout,  with  a 
good-natured  face,  and  I  thought  he  and 
the  lady  looked  much  alike.  As  he  spoke, 
he  looked  toward  a  picture,  framed  in  blue 
plush  and  silver,  of  a  lovely,  snow-white 
creature,  with  long  silky  curls  and  big  black 
eyes,  —  I  wondered  if  this  could  be  Flossie  ? 
Then  something  told  me  there  was  a  little 
lonely  spot  in  their  hearts,  and  I  said  to 
myself,  "I  will  fit  into  that  lonely  spot 
and  cheer  them,  by  hook  or  by  crook."  So 
I  plucked  up  my  courage,  made  a  flying  leap 
into  the  lady's  arms,  gave  her  a  dainty  kiss 
on  the  cheek,  and  flew  away  again.  And 
while  the  gentleman  was  laughing,  I  sprang 
on  his  knee  and  gave  him  another,  leaping 
away  as  his  mustache  brushed  my  delicate 
nose.  I  waltzed  about  on  my  hind  feet,  and 

15 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

turned  somersaults;  I  jumped  on  the  great 
white  bed  and  ran  around  in  a  circle,  like  a 
fawn-and-white  whirlwind,  and  shook  down 
the  starched  linen  shams;  I  grabbed  a  ball 
of  blue  worsted  from  the  table,  and  shook  it, 
and  tossed  it,  and  laid  it  at  his  feet;  and 
when  he  stooped  to  give  it  a  throw  for  me, 
I  saluted  him  on  the  tip  of  the  nose,  and 
scuttled  away  after  the  ball,  to  the  farther 
end  of  the  room  adjoining,  and  was  back  in 
a  twinkling,  fetching  the  ball  for  him  to 
throw  again,  till  they  both  laughed  gaily. 

"Well,  mother,  I  guess  you'll  have  a  time 
of  it  in  the  next  two  weeks,  but  we  must  go 
to  dinner." 

So  I  could  see  I  had  broken  the  ice,  and 
brought  a  ripple  of  sunshine  into  their  home. 
I  followed  gaily,  carrying  the  ball,  batting  it 
ahead  of  me  with  my  little  fore  feet.  I 
would  play  it  was  a  mouse,  and  rush  upon  it, 
and  grab  it  and  shake  it,  though  in  my  heart 
I  would  not  harm  a  living  thing. 

"  What  shall  we  call  her  ?"  said  the  gen- 
tleman. 

"Let  us  call  her  Fairy,"  answrered  the 
lady,  —  "she  is  so  graceful  and  airy.  See, 
her  little  limbs  are  almost  transparent  when 
16 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

she  is  between  one  and  the  light,  and  she 
dances  like  a  little  sprite." 

"Or  else  Starlight,  for  her  beautiful  soft 
eyes;  or  little  Sweetheart,  she  is  so  loving," 
suggested  the  gentleman.  I  knew  they  were 
talking  about  me,  so  I  paused  and  pricked 
up  my  delicately  veined  ears,  my  right  foot 
poised  in  air,  and  looked  from  one  to  the 
other,  with  my  great  questioning  eyes. 

"They  are  all  sweet  names,  and  fit  her 
well,  but  some  way  I  like  Fairy  best;  it  is 
musical  and  easily  called,  and  again  there 
is  something  so  etherial  about  her.  Maybe 
she  will  prove  our  little  good  genius  —  who 
knows!" 

"Well,  Fairy  shall  be  her  name  then - 
but  I  thought  we  were  not  going  to    keep 
her?"  laughed  the  gentleman. 

"I  shall  leave  that  to  you  at  the  end  of 
the  two  weeks,"  responded  the  lady,  with  a 
true  woman's  tact  for  paving  the  way 
smoothly. 

"  Fairy, — Fairy, — Fairy-Moo-oon-light ! " 
hummed  the  gentleman,  to  the  sweetest  little 
tune,  fixing  his  eyes  on  mine,  and  I  under- 
stood from  that  moment  that  my  name  was 
Fairy-Moonlight,  and  in  all  the  years  to 

17 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

come,  when  they  sang  that  sweet  little  re- 
frain to  me,  I  fairly  bubbled  over  with  de- 
light, for  I  thought  the  song  was  all  about 
me.  But  then  I  sprang  up  and  stuck  my 
little  cold  nose  into  his  ear,  as  he  paused  to 
pet  me,  and  tousled  his  brown  hair,  which 
curled  slightly.  I  sniffed  and  sneezed  at  the 
lingering  smell  of  cigar  smoke  in  it,  which  I 
could  never  quite  learn  to  like,  so  I  sprang 
away,  and  went  around  the  room  again,  like 
a  flying-squirrel. 

Just  then  I  discovered  a  wooden  spool, 
under  the  corner  of  the  green  wire  flower- 
stand,  which  had  been  filled  with  potted 
plants,  to  cheer  the  winter  dining-room. 
Bridget,  the  maid,  had  been  rolling  the  over- 
loaded stand  around  that  she  might  sweep, 
that  very  morning,  and  broken  out  one  porce- 
lain castor  by  her  careless  proceeding;  so 
as  a  substitute  for  her  mischief,  which  she 
did  not  tell  to  her  mistress,  she  had  barely 
wedged  the  spool  under,  to  block  up  the 
corner,  saying,  as  she  afterward  confessed: 
"Be  gorra,  'tis  jist  as  good  as  new!" 
My  little  back  teeth  were  just  peeping 
through  the  gums,  and  felt  just  like  biting 
some  hard,  wooden  thing,  so  I  turned  my 
18 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

attention  to  this  spool,  and  twisted  and 
pulled  away  upon  it.  The  gentleman  and 
lady  had  seated  themselves  at  the  table,  and 
were  looking  across  at  each  other,  and  talk- 
ing about  it  being  the  seventeenth  anniver- 
sary of  their  wedding-day.  I  was  listening, 
but  could  not  well  understand  such  big 
words. 

"But  we  feel  just  as  young  as  we  ever 
did,"  said  the  cheery  gentleman.  "I  don't 
feel  a  day  over  twenty-five!"  Just  then,  I 
pulled  the  spool  from  under  the  corner  of 
the  flower-stand  - 

Slam-bang!  Crash!  over  went  the  great 
wire  stand;  the  flower-pots  flew  off,  and 
rolled,  some  of  them,  clear  under  the  dinner- 
table. 

But  before  the  pots  stopped  rolling  I 
scampered  away,  like  a  little  race-horse, 
back  to  the  lady's  room,  cleared  the  floor 
with  a  bound,  and  dove  between  the  em- 
broidered shams,  under  the  blankets,  to  the 
very  foot  of  the  big  soft  bed,  which  ever 
after  was  my  ark  of  refuge.  The  bedstead 
had  a  great  shining  top,  with  a  raised  round 
panel  of  the  burled  walnut,  and  carved  urns 
at  either  side;  and  here  the  lady  found  me, 

19 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

a  little  hiding,  trembling  culprit,  after  the 
wreck  was  cleared  away,  and  the  dinner  was 
over. 

"  Poor  little  thing,  she  wasn't  so  much  to 
blame,"  I  heard  her  say.  "I  knew  in  a 
moment,  when  I  saw  that  gnawed  spool, 
just  what  Bridget  had  been  up  to;  isn't  it 
strange :  some  girls  have  no  sense,  nor  mech- 
anism, --but  after  all  there  were  only  two 
pots  broken."  So  as  she  found  me,  a  little 
trembling  heap,  in  the  middle  of  the  big 
bed,  she  left  me,  and  because  she  did  not 
punish  me,  but  let  me  lie  there,  snug  and 
warm,  I  fled  there  ever  after,  as  my  castle 
of  defence. 


CHAPTER  II 


"BuT  I  only  look  up  at  the  Master 

With  a  life  that  is  veiled  and  dumb, 
Content  to  share  with  the  sparrow 
His  love,  and  the  falling  crumb." 

WILLIS  BOYD  ALLEN. 


MY  sins  of  ignorance  for  the  two 
weeks  to  come  were  many;  my 
little  new  teeth  ached  and  grum- 
bled, and  I  seemed  to  crave  something 
to  gnaw  and  chew  upon.  A  cunning  little 
basket,  that  had  belonged  first  to  Flossie 
and  then  to  his  saucy  successor,  Babe,  and 
whose  wicker  bore  the  marks  of  many  little 
rasping  teeth,  was  brought  forth,  with  a  soft 
new  downy  cushion,  for  my  benefit,  and 
into  it,  as  soon  as  my  foster  mother's  back 
was  turned,  I  dragged  many  a  dainty  slipper 
and  glove,  —  for  I  especially  loved  what  she 
had  worn,  —  as  well  as  many  a  pencil,  and 
spools  of  thread  without  number. 

When  all  were  gone  to  church  one  winter 
morning,  the  door  was  left  ajar  to  mamma's 

21 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

dressing-room,  and  I  ventured  in,  and  found 
a  lovely  black  fur  muff,  that  she  used  some- 
times to  keep  her  hands  warm.  I  carried  it 
gleefully  into  my  basket,  and  lay  down,  with 
my  little  paws  inside  it,  same  as  I  had  seen 
mamma  hold  it.  But  the  long  fur  tickled  my 
nose,  so  I  nipped  at  it  and  pulled  out  tuft 
after  tuft  till  I  got  tired.  Then  I  went  again 
to  the  dressing-room,  and  discovered  a  green 
velvet  hat,  adorned  with  a  beautiful  green- 
and-gold  breast,  that  some  happy  bird  had 
worn  sometime  over  his  singing  heart,  and  a 
dainty  little  bonnet,  trimmed  with  costly 
aigrettes.  I  had  heard  mamma  say  that 
very  morning,  while  she  was  dressing: 

"I  bought  this  lovely  breast,  and  these 
aigrettes,  before  I  knew  or  even  dreamed 
how  cruelly  they  were  torn  from  the  live 
mother-bird  by  their  pitiless  hunters,  in 
nesting  time,  and  the  little  ones  left  to  starve 
and  die,  and  I  shall  never  wear  them  again, 
nor  buy  any  more.  I  am  only  one  among 
thousands,  but  if  every  woman  would  say 
the  same,  this  terrible  traffic  in  gentle  lives 
would  come  to  an  end!" 

So  I  tossed  the  green  velvet  hat  high  in 
air;  I  plucked  out  mouthful  after  mouthful 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

of    the    golden-green    feathers,    and    they 
floated  over  the  room.     Then  I  took  the 
neat  little  bonnet  in  hand,  and  chewed  off 
all  the  offending  aigrettes,  and  put  the  relics 
of  both  hat  and  bonnet 
among  the  treasures 
in    my    basket.      I 
rummaged 
around,  and 
found    my 
foster  fa- 
ther's  new 
alligator 


slippers, 
and  pulled 
out     the 
sheepskin  linings, 
and  chewed   them 

down  at  the  heel,  and  was  smacking  my 
little  lips  over  them,  when  I  heard  the 
rustle  of  mamma's  dress  on  the  stairs. 

23 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

She  came  and  stood  over  me,  looking 
down  on  the  ruin  I  had  wrought,  very 
stern  and  stately,  in  her  silken  gown  and 
embroidered  cloak,  all  in  black. 

"Oh,  Fairy,  Fairy!"  she  exclaimed  re- 
proachfully, "I  shall  have  to  punish  you 
now,  for  your  own  good!" 

And  taking  a  slender  little  bamboo  cane, 
which  had  a  small  ivory  boot  on  top  for  a 
handle,  she  held  up  the  ruined  relics  of  my 
sport  to  my  trembling  gaze,  and  gave  me  a 
few  little  stinging  blows  with  the  slender 
part  of  the  cane,  as  I  cowered  under  the 
protecting  arch  of  the  basket.  I  remember 
now  how  the  jet  beads  on  her  embroidered 
cloak  shook  and  glistened  as  she  raised  her 
plump  gloved  hand  to  punish  me.  And  I 
never  loved  to  see  her  in  that  cloak  again. 
She  went  and  took  it  off,  and  the  rustling 
gown,  and  came  back  in  the  soft  blue  dress 
she  wore  when  first  I  saw  her,  and  picking 
me  up  from  my  basket,  she  gathered  me  to 
her  breast,  and  rocked  and  soothed  me,  for 
I  shook  with  grief  and  fear,  and  my  breath 
came  and  went  in  little  quivering  sobs. 

"I  am  afraid  you  will  spoil  it  all,  with 
babying  her  so  much,  mother;  really  we 
24 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

can't  stand  such  expensive  mischief  -  -  it 
costs  more  money  than  a  little  to  have  such 
goings  on  as  this.  If  Imogene  doesn't  seem 
to  have  any  notion  of  taking  her  back,  you 
had  better  let  the  grocer  have  her,"  said  the 
gentleman.  '  You  know  you  were  telling  me 
that  the  doctor  had  advised  him  to  have  a 
little  puppy  to  sleep  with  his  little  girl,  who 
isn't  very  strong,  and  he  seems  very  anxious 
to  have  this  one." 

"Well,"  said  mother,  with  her  usual 
woman's  tact  again,  "  I  told  the  grocer  that 
the  matter  could  not  be  decided  till  the  end 
of  this  week,  and  you  can  see  then  how  you 
feel  about  giving  her  up." 

I  stopped  sobbing,  and  listened  with 
quaking  heart.  Oh,  how  I  longed  to  be 
good  enough  to  merit  approval;  how  I 
wished  I  knew  how  to  be;  but  I  was  only  a 
poor  little  puppy,  and  did  not  know  what 
the  words  "cost,"  and  "money,"  meant,  - 
no  more  than  the  little  people  do,  when  they 
break  and  mar  what  has  cost  time  and 
effort,  —  but  I  knew  they  were  talking 
about  me  in  low  and  serious  tones. 

I  shivered  at  thought  of  being  thrust  away 
again  from  those  soft,  loving  arms,  even 

25 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

though  they  had  administered  punishment; 
but  mamma  never  had  cause  to  punish  me 
again,  for  that  very  evening  her  friend  Mrs. 
Q  called,  and  the  conversation  nat- 

urally turned  on  me,  —  how  beautiful  I 
was,  --  but  oh!  the  tribulations  and  trials 
of  my  mischief! 

"  I  don't  believe  it  does  one  bit  of  good  to 
whip  her,"  said  mamma;  "she  just  seemed 
to  think  it  was  some  severe  humor  that  the 
wearing  of  my  black  cloak  had  put  me  into, 
for  the  little  sensitive  thing  shudders  and 
looks  askance  at  sight  of  it  now." 

"No,  indeed,"  answered  Mrs.  Q ,  "I 

never  whipped  my  lovely  King  Charlie 
when  he  was  a  puppy;  his  little  teeth  ached, 
same  as  hers  do,  so  I  just  gave  him  some 
things  for  his  very  own  to  play  with  and 
have  in  his  basket,  —  an  old  slipper,  among 
the  rest,  to  bite  and  pull  on." 

"That's  a  good,  sensible  idea,  and  Aleck, 
I  wish  you  would  get  little  Fairy  a  nice  new 
rubber  ring  and  ball  to-morrow  morning; 
and  I  shall  let  her  have  that  fur  muff  she 
seems  to  love  so,  right  in  her  basket." 

So  the  hard  rubber  ring,  and  nice  new 
ball,  that  would  bounce  and  roll,  were 
26 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

brought  home  to  me  the  very  next  day,  and 
I  would  amuse  myself  for  hours  together 
with  them,  and  mamma  said  I  was  growing 
to  be  her  "little  loving  lady." 

I  stopped  nibbing  the  pins  out  of  her  hair, 
to  let  it  fall  in  bright  brown  waves  over  her 
shoulders,  and  snatching  the  spectacles  off 
papa's  nose,  and  pulling  the  linings  out  of 
his  hats.  I  would  spring  on  his  lap,  as  soon 
as  the  evening  lamp  was  lighted,  and  snuggle 
my  little  head  up  on  his  breast,  between  him 
and  the  newspaper  while  he  read,  and  lie 
blinking  up  at  him  for  hours,  with  those  deep 
golden-brown  eyes  of  mine,  which  mamma 
said  grew  bigger  and  more  beautiful  every 
day. 

"And  you  can  almost  see  her  little  fore- 
head grow  full  and  high,  above  her  eyes 
and  between  her  ears  —  she  is  going  to  be 
full  of  love  and  intelligence!"  she  would  add. 
Still,  I  had  lots  of  baby  ways.  When  I  lay 
down  at  night,  I  always  wanted  papa's  hand 
to  hold  between  my  little  paws,  and  would 
kiss  it  all  over,  inside  and  out,  I  missed  my 
fawn-and-white  mamma  so;  and  when  I  got 
tired,  I  would  lay  my  little  chin  in  the  hollow 
of  his  hand,  and  go  to  sleep. 

27 


CHAPTER  III 


"  I  SCAN  the  whole  broad  earth  around 

For  that  one  heart  which,  leal  and  true, 
Bears  friendship  without  end  or  bound, 

And  find  the  prize  in  you. 
I  trust  you  as  I  trust  the  stars; 

Nor  cruel  loss,  nor  scoff  of  pride, 
Nor  beggary,  nor  dungeon  bars, 
Can  move  you  from  my  side!" 

JOSIAH  GILBERT  HOLLAND. 

THE  next  Sunday  morning  I 
jumped  out  of  bed  when  I  heard 
a  little  boy  crying,  far  away  down 
the  street,  "Sunday  Herald!  —  Sunday 
Globe!"  I  wiggled  my  way  through  the 
flowers  in  the  bay,  and  barked  in  a  high, 
singing  key,  "Ou-i'  --  ou-i'  --  ou-i',"  and 
spatted  my  little  fore  feet  on  the  window- 
glass  at  the  boy,  just  appearing  with  his 
Billy-goat,  dragging  a  little  wooden  box  on 
wheels,  piled  high  with  papers. 

I  did  this  because,  the  Sunday  before, 
papa  had  jumped  up  hurriedly  and  rapped 
on  the  glass  at  the  boy  when  he  heard  him 
calling.  He  had  raised  the  window  and 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

thrown  a  little  round,  shining  thing  down  at 
him,  and  said,  rather  sharply: 

"Look  here,  boy  —  don't  you  forget  me; 
you  know  I  always  want  a  paper!" 

So  I  knew  there  was  something  about  that 
boy  crying  "Sunday  Globe!"  that  required 
prompt  attention;  and  so  long  as  I  lived,  I 
never  let  a  paper  boy  go  by  after  that  with- 
out singing  out,  and  spatting  on  the  window 
at  him. 

How  they  laughed  and  said,  "Who 
would  have  thought  she  would  have  learned 
that  so  quickly,  and  remembered  it  a  whole 
week."  Then  mamma  added,  rather  sadly: 

"Well,  Aleck,  the  grocer  will  have  to  be 
told  to-morrow  morning  whether  he  can 
have  Fairy  for  his  little  girl  or  not.  It  isn't 
right  to  keep  him  waiting  so." 

My  little  body  stopped  waggling  and  I 
looked  anxiously  from  one  to  the  other. 
Papa  looked  quizzical,  and  as  he  finished 
dressing  he  clasped  his  finger-tips  and  made 
a  round  ring  of  his  arms ;  and  I  went  through 
them  with  flying  leaps,  back  and  forth,  again 
and  again,  higher  and  higher,  like  a  little 
sprite,  anxious  to  please  him. 

"I  could  teach  this  dog  anything,"  he 

29 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

said;  "she  leaped  the  tennis  net,  full 
height,  for  me  yesterday." 

"I  know  that,"  answered  mamma.  "  She 
will  learn  to  do  everything  but  talk;  in  fact, 
she  does  talk  now  in  her  way  —  but  that 
isn't  answering  my  question." 

"  I'll  decide  before  the  time  comes,"  he 
answered,  still  wishing  not  to  appear  too 
easy  to  yield,  in  a  way  men  have,  yet  hoping 
all  the  time  to  be  forced  to. 

Mamma  said  no  more,  but  cut  off  a  piece 
of  broad,  shining  silk  ribbon,  the  color  of 
the  sky,  and  tied  it  about  my  slender  white 
throat,  with  big  double  bows  behind,  making 
a  lovely  background  for  my  silky  seal-and- 
f awn-colored  ears;  then  she  held  me  up  be- 
fore the  long  mirror  and  let  me  see  myself. 
Then  I  knew  that  the  lovely  color  of  the  sky 
was  made  for  me  —  it  was  my  color;  and 
when  she  put  me  down  I  could  hardly  walk, 
I  felt  so  proud  and  happy.  I  tossed  and 
bridled  my  little  head,  and  wagged  my  slen- 
der body,  and  pranced  and  skipped  like  a 
circus  horse. 

I  behaved  beautifully  while  papa  and 
mamma,  were  gone  to  church  that  morning. 
I  busied  myself  with  rolling  and  tossing  my 
30 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

rubber  ball  and  trying  to  kiss  the  ends  of  my 
lovely  blue  ribbon.  I  felt  so  grand  and  self- 
righteous  that  when  the  new  girl,  Christie, 
was  laying  the  table  for  dinner,  and  I 
peeped  out  and  saw  the  big  black  kitten, 
Whiskers,  perched  on  the  edge  of  a  chair, 
his  nose  in  air,  sniffing  in  the  direction  of 
the  chicken,  which  Christie  had  just  taken 
from  the  oven  and  put  in  a  big  platter,  I 
rushed  out  and  seized  him  by  his  long  bushy 
tail  and  threw  him  to  the  floor  in  a  twinkling. 
But  he  never  scratched  me,  he  was  so  taken 
by  surprise;  and  Christie  praised  me. 

I  always  lorded  it  over  Whiskers  after 
that,  before  people,  but  he  would  never 
strike  back;  we  really  loved  each  other 
dearly,  and  always  kissed  each  other  when 
we  met  and  thought  nobody  was  looking. 
I  felt  dreadfully  sorry  when  some  bad  boys 
stoned  poor  Whiskers  and  hurt  his  leg  so 
that  he  died,  after  suffering  many  days. 

Papa  saved  me  the  wish-bone  when  he 
carved  the  chicken  at  dinner  that  day,  and 
Christie  fed  me  with  nice  tidbits  in  the 
kitchen,  Whiskers  waiting  patiently  till  I 
had  my  fill. 

I  hid  my  wish-bone  under  the  little  blue 

31 


cushion  of  my  basket,  and  I  watched  Whis- 
kers very  sharply  for  fear  he  would  go  snif- 
fing around  to  find  it.  I  would  not  let  him 
put  his  foot  outside  the  kitchen,  but  would 
push  him  back,  clear  across  the  slippery  oil- 
cloth carpet,  and  he  would  bear  it  all  so 
gently,  as  much  as  to  say,  '  You  are  a 
dainty  little  Fairy-queen,  and  I  am  a  poor 
old  black  kitty,  glad  to  even  be  your  slave, 
I  love  you  so."  I  learned  not  to  be  so  self- 
ish when  I  grew  bigger,  but  it  was  too  late 
to  be  kind  to  poor,  dear  Whiskers. 

How  glad  I  was  that  bright  Sabbath  after- 
noon when  papa  said,  "I  think  I  will 
have  old  Nellie  harnessed  and  ride  over 
toward  the  Blue  Hills,  and  take  little  Fairy 
with  us!"  I  always  knew  the  word  "ride" 
after  that,  and  if  they  didn't  wish  me  to 
know,  they  had  to  spell  the  word  - 
"r-i-d-e,"  and  soon  I  could  tell  what  was 
coming,  even  then,  and  would  run  away  and 
try  to  reach  my  blue  ribbon,  or  little  collar, 
and  ask  to  have  it  on. 

That  first  ride  was  a  momentous  one  to 

me;  the  handsome  bay  mare,  Nellie,  was 

brought. to  the  door,  in  the  new  Goddard 

buggy,  and  I  was  set  between  papa  and 

32 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

mamma,  and  tucked  in,  nice  and  warm; 
only,  in  my  eagerness  to  see  and  be  seen,  I 
would  stretch  my  slender  head  and  neck  and 
little  folded  fore  paws  to  the  foreground. 

I  could  hear  the  little  children  by  the 
country  roadside  cry  out,  "Oh,  see  that 
cunning  little  doggie!"  and  even  the  ladies 
would  look  up  at  me  and  smile,  and  say, 
"What  a  little  beauty!"  till  mamma 
laughed  and  said  I  was  "the  admired  of  all 
admirers,"  with  my  fawn-like  face  and 
great  shining  eyes,  against  the  background 
of  the  dark  green  carriage  lining. 

How  I  did  love  to  hear  the  trot,  trot  of  the 
horse's  feet,  and  see  the  trees  and  fields  go 
flying  by,  and  see  the  cows  grazing  the  green 
grass. 

When  we  were  far  from  home  that  after- 
noon, in  what  seemed  a  strange  country  to 
me,  with  sleeping,  scattered  farm-houses, 
papa  said: 

"Let  us  put  little  Fairy  out  of  the  car- 
riage, and  let  her  run  alongside;  the  exercise 
will  do  her  good." 

Mamma  seemed  a  little  afraid  that  some 
passing  carriage  would  run  over  me,  but 
finally  all  seemed  so  quiet  I  was  allowed  to 

33 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

jump  out  and  lope  along  beside  old  Nellie; 
it  was  only  play  for  me  to  keep  up  with  her, 
so  papa  chirped  her  up  to  a  gay  trot,  to  try 
my  mettle,  but  that  was  easy  fun  for  me. 
I  took  a  little  longer  springing  leaps,  and 
didn't  even  look  ahead,  but  turned  my  face 
backward  toward  the  carriage,  and  kept  my 
shining  brown  eyes  on  papa's  face  as  he  held 
the  lines,  urging  old  Nellie  faster  and  faster. 

Suddenly  there  was  a  low,  angry  snarl;  a 
great  shaggy  form  sprang  up  from  its  sleep 
by  the  roadside  and  bounded  savagely  after 
me,  with  a  loud,  threatening  growl  which 
made  my  little  heart  beat  wild  with  fear! 

Mamma  saw  my  danger,  and  gave  a  quick 
cry  of  apprehension;  papa  seized  the  long 
carriage  whip,  and  tried  to  reach  out  with  it 
and  deter  the  excited  wolfish  mongrel,  who 
seemed  to  have  been  aroused  from  some 
dream  of  flying  game  by  the  swift  fall  of  the 
horse's  feet  to  see  me  passing  like  a  fleet 
hare.  He  had  never  seen  a  creature  like 
me  in  his  country  experience  and  was 
wild  to  overtake  me.  Whether  his  keen 
scent  would  have  warned  him  that  I  was 
only  a  gentle  creature  of  his  own  kind,  in 
time  to  have  saved  my  life,  papa  and  mam- 
34 


•3s 

^ 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

ma  could  never  quite  determine;  but  it  was 
a  terrible  moment  for  them,  as  well  as  me! 

The  whizzing  of  the  whip,  a  sound  so  un- 
familiar to  old  Nellie's  ears,  startled  her  to 
her  utmost  capacity;  but  I  flew  on,  still  in 
advance,  the  great  shaggy  brute  behind  me 
tearing  after  in  a  cloud  of  dust,  raised  by  his 
fierce,  clawing  pace.  I  was  leaping  three 
times  my  slender  length  with  every  bound,  but 
my  breath  was  coming  with  sobbing  gasps, 
and  my  little  heart  was  bursting  with  fear! 

I  turned  my  beautiful  eyes  back,  with  one 
appealing  look,  to  papa's  face;  I  saw  the 
open  jaws  and  blood-red  tongue  of  my  pur- 
suer close  upon  me.  With  the  blind  but 
unerring  instinct  which  God  has  given  all 
his  gentle  creatures  for  self-preservation,  I 
leaped  straight  across  the  roadway  —  across 
old  Nellie's  mad  advance.  I  heard  a  cry 
from  mamma.  My  pursuer  tried  to  turn  as 
sharply,  but  slipped  and  fell,  rolling  over  and 
over  in  the  dust.  Papa  was  trying  to  bring 
old  Nellie  upon  her  haunches  to  spring  out 
himself  and  intervene,  but  before  he  could 
bring  her  up  I  had  bounded  from  the  ground 
with  a  flying  leap,  high  over  the  dasher,  into 
mamma's  arms! 

37 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

She  kissed  and  soothed  me  in  silent 
thankfulness,  with  tears  of  joy  dimming  her 
blue  eyes,  while  papa  calmed  and  slackened 
his  excited  steed;  he  was  the  first  to  speak. 

"  Mother,  we'll  take  this  for  an  omen  that 
she  is  to  be  ours.  I  wouldn't  have  given 
much  for  her  life  till  she  landed  in  your 
arms.  She  has  gotten  the  best  of  me,  this 
last  week,  anyway!" 

"She  will  prove  our  good  genius,  I  am 
sure;  the  dear  little  thing  kissed  my  sapphire 
ring  the  moment  she  was  brought  to  our 
door,  and  you  know,  Aleck,  there  does  al- 
ways seem  to  be  some  strange  significance 
about  that  ring,"  said  mamma,  with  a  glad 
note  of  thankfulness  in  her  voice. 

'The  significance  is  in  the  wearer,  I 
guess,"  laughed  papa;  "but,  Stella,  I  am 
better  able  to  buy  you  a  handsomer  ring 
now,  and  you  have  worn  that  almost  ten 
years,"  and  he  glanced  down  at  the  deep 
blue  sapphire,  set  around  with  small  dia- 
monds, the  only  ornament  on  her  plump 
little  hand,  which  she  had  ungloved  to  tie  my 
loosened  ribbon. 

"  Oh,  that  is  the  very  reason  I  value  it  so  — 
it  has  brought  me  only  good  luck  all  these 
38 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

years.  I  wouldn't  change  it  for  the  biggest 
diamond!  I  wonder  what  its  history  was 
before  you  took  it  from  Metzger,  the  Jew? 
How  sadly  the  owner  must  have  felt  to  part 
with  it !  Who  knows  how  many  lives  it  may 
have  brightened  ?  I  must  always  wear  it, 
and  never  lose  a  stone  from  out  it!"  and 
mamma  looked  into  the  blue  depths  of  the 
mysterious  gem,  and  turned  it  lovingly  till 
I  reached  out  and  kissed  it  again,  in  the 
blessed  moment  of  my  adoption! 


39 


CHAPTER  IV 


"THY  memory  lasts  both  here  and  there, 

And  thou  shalt  live  as  long  as  we, 
And  after  that  —  thou  dost  not  care, 
In  us  was  all  the  world  to  thee." 

MATTHEW  ARNOLD. 

AND  so  it  was  settled,  then  and 
there,  that  my  little  lot  was  cast 
with  theirs;  and  papa  paid  his  five 
good  dollars  per  annum  into  the  city  treas- 
ury and  I  was  recorded  as  "Fairy-Moon- 
light, fawn-and-white  gazelle-hound,"  and 
the  happy  years  rolled  by.  Perchance  I 
was  their  little  good  genius,  as  they  said, 
for  no  illness  nor  loss  ever  came  their  way. 
The  business  throve;  they  added  to  their 
acres;  and  papa  planned  and  built  many 
homes  for  others.  I  was  his  constant  com- 
panion in  his  strolls  about  his  estate,  and 
would  follow  him  up  the  ladder-rungs,  story 
after  story,  in  the  new  houses,  and  he  would 
bring  me  tenderly  down  in  his  arms. 

The  last  puppy  mischief  that  I  remember 
doing    was    that    very    spring.     I    puzzled 
40 


mamma  by  coming  in  from  my  play  every 
morning,  and  bringing  in  my  slender  jaws 
a  fresh-laid  hen's  egg,  so  fragile  she  could 
never  see  how  I  could  grasp  it  in  my  sharp 
white  teeth,  and  bring  it  steadily  clear  up- 
stairs and  lay  it  joyfully  at  her  feet,  without 
breaking  the  shell.  When  I  had  done  this 
several  mornings,  mamma  took  all  the  eggs 
over  to  Imogene's  cottage,  and  said: 

"  Imogene,  I  did  not  commission  my 
sweet  little  Fairy  to  rob  your  hens'  nests; 
the  best  I  can  do  is  to  restore  the  booty." 

"The  eggs  cannot  be  mine,"  said  Imo- 
gene, "for  there  is  a  high  wire  fence  all 
around,  and  the  gate  to  the  hen-yard  is 
closed  and  locked;  Fairy  and  Skippum  have 
been  with  John,  and  seen  him  take  the  eggs 
from  under  the  old  hens  and  put  them  in 
his  hat,  but  they  can't  get  in  there  by  them- 
selves, I  am  sure." 

So  there  was  a  great  mystery.  I  could 
not  speak  and  tell  that  I  was  watching  a  big 
black-and-white  hen,  who  had  a  warm  nest 
cuddled  in  the  tall  grass  under  the  grape-vine 
in  mamma's  own  yard.  She  had  run  away 
from  her  flock  and  stolen  a  nest.  I  would 
steal  up  behind  her,  and  root  my  little  sharp 

41 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

nose  under  her  feathers  and  get  the  fresh- 
laid  eggs  for  mamma,  because  I  loved  her, 
and  because  I  had  seen  the  people  do  it. 

The  big  hen  would  scold,  and  pick  fiercely 
at  my  little  brown  ears,  but  I  braved  her 
wrath  every  day.  Finally,  one  morning, 
papa  watched  when  he  let  me  go  to  play, 


and  saw  me  creeping  slyly  out  from  under 
the  grape-vine  with  the  pretty  cream-colored 
egg  poised  in  my  little  white  teeth.  Then 
he  peeped  under  the  vine;  the  mystery  was 
solved,  and  the  truant  hen,  with  ruffled  dig- 
nity, was  sent  home  to  Imogene.  I  thought 
I  was  doing  just  the  right  thing,  but  mamma 
said  it  would  teach  me  bad  habits. 

One  of  those  bright  spring  mornings  little 
Skippum  came  over  to  visit  me  and  play  on 
42 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

our  big  lawn.  We  ran  like  little  madcaps, 
playing  hide-and-go-seek  in  and  out  the 
shrubbery.  He  was  glossy  black,  with 
pretty  brown  touches  around  his  eyes,  nose 
and  ears,  and  a  brown  vest  and  stockings, 
and  I  wished  him  to  have  a  fine  time. 
While  we  were  resting  a  minute,  to  get  our 
breath,  I  saw  that  the  maid  had  left  the 
front  hall  door  open,  and  it  came  into  my 
little  head  how  Skippum  would  like  papa's 
soft  brown  hat  to  play  with.  So  I  stole  in 
and  bounded  noiselessly  up  on  to  the  marble 
shelf  of  the  hat-tree,  where  the  hats  hung  on 
long  pegs,  but  I  was  not  quite  tall  enough. 
My  weight,  and  my  pulling  at  the  hat,  wob- 
bled the  tall  hat-tree  against  the  wall,  so 
that  mamma,  who  was  writing  in  her  room, 
thought  she  heard  something  below;  and 
she  tiptoed  to  the  upper  hall  and  peeped 
over  the  banister,  just  in  time  to  see  me  suc- 
ceed in  lifting  the  hat  from  the  peg,  bound 
down  and  out  with  it.  She  hurried  back  to 
her  window  to  see  what  next.  I  held  the 
hat  out  to  Skippum,  who  grabbed  it  and 
waltzed  away  down  the  big  lawn  with  it. 
One  naughty  thought  had  brought  another, 
—  I  bounded  back  to  the  hat-tree,  and  up 

43 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

again,  and  reached  papa's  new  white  hat,  for 
myself,  —  I  could  count  enough  to  know 
that  it  took  two  hats  for  two  dogs.  I 
knocked  it  with  my  little  paws  till  it  fell 
from  the  peg,  then  caught  it  by  the  edge  of 
the  soft  brim"  and  was  out  and  away  in  a 
twinkling,  to  join  Skippum. 

Mamma  had  been  slyly  watching  me, 
clear  from  the  outset,  and  she  hastened  again 
to  the  window  to  see  us,  two  naughty  little 
dogs,  tearing  gleefully  across  our  big  lawn 
to  Skippum's  cottage,  with  the  white  and 
the  tan  hats  over  our  heads,  as  we  ran 
against  the  morning  breeze. 

I  knew  I  was  doing  wrong,  because  I  had 
never  forgotten  putting  mamma's  bonnets 
in  my  basket,  and  my  keen  little  ears  were 
turned  backward  as  I  ran,  and  heard  her 
very  first  call: 

"  Fairy,  Fairy!  what  are  you  doing  ?  What 
will  papa  say?" 

I  slunk  back,  trembling,  my  tail  curled 
tight  between  my  legs  and  crept  to  her 
feet,  as  she  stood  on  the  edge  of  the  walk, 
and  laid  down  my  hat.  Skippum  trotted 
boldly  back,  when  mamma  called  him,  and 
tossed  down  his  hat  with  an  offhand  air, 
44 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

as  much  as  to  say,  "Fairy  is  the  one  who 
did  it!" 

Mamma  took  up  the  hats  and  saw  they 
were  uninjured,  but  I  expected  to  be  pun- 
ished. She  held  them  down  to  me,  as  I 
crept  whimpering  up  the  steps  into  the  hall, 
and  said,  in  a  low,  serious  voice,  "Poor,  poor 
papa!  he  can't  have  any  hats,  his  naughty 
little  Fairy  spoils  them  all!" 

I  crept  away  into  my  basket  and  hoped 
she  would  forget  it,  but  she  called  me  out, 
again  and  again,  and  held  the  hats  to  my 
keen-scented  nose,  and  said,  "Poor,  poor 
papa!"  till  I  began  to  feel  that  I  had  done  a 
dreadful  thing  to  the  one  I  loved  so  well. 

I  trembled  and  shook  in  my  basket  when 
he  came  at  noon,  and  called  as  usual,  "Are 
you  up  there,  mother?" 

'Yes,"  she  answered,  "and  I  would  like 
you  to  come  up.  I  have  a  dreadful  story  to 
tell  you!"  she  said,  as  he  entered  the  room, 
in  such  a  sorrowful  voice ;  and  again  she  took 
down  those  terrible  hats  from  the  two  bed- 
posts, where  she  had  hung  them  before  my 
eyes.  I  crept  out  of  the  basket  to  where 
papa  stood,  and  crouched  between  his  feet, 
and  cried  and  lapped  my  little  tongue  out  at 

45 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

him,  to  tell  him  that  I  still  loved  him,  and  not 
to  punish  me. 

He  shook  his  head  as  mamma  rehearsed 
the  tale,  and  said  the  same  words  dolefully, 
"Poor,  poor  papa!"  but  he  did  not  punish 
me.  I  could  not  look  at  the  hats,  but 
turned  my  little  face  away  from  them,  and 
never,  from  that  day  to  this,  did  I  do  another 
piece  of  mischief.  And  if  they  ever,  to  try 
me,  put  on  that  doleful  voice  to  rehearse  the 
story,  I  flew  from  one  to  the  other,  and  patted 
my  little  paws  on  their  lips  and  kissed  them 
so  fast  they  could  not  open  them  to  speak. 


46 


CHAPTER  V 


"YET  proof  was  plain  that  since  the  day 
On  which  the  traveler  thus  had  died 
The  dog  had  watched  about  the  spot, 
Or  by  his  master's  side." 

WILLIAM  WORDSWORTH. 


THEY  said  I  was  a  good  Fairy  of 
light  to  the  boys  and  girls,  for  thus 
every  year,  as  my  five-dollar  tax 
was  paid,  I  gave  them  a  half-dozen  or  more 
fine  new  books  to  read;  for  all  of  us  poor 
gentle  little  dogs  paid  as  much  or  more  than 
some  big  men  who  helped  make  the  city 
laws.  We  paid  it  into  the  City  Library 
fund,  and  we  had  to  buy  our  lives  this  way 
every  May-day,  or  else  the  big  men  in 
blue  coats  and  brass  buttons  could  catch  us 
and  shoot  us!  That  was  the  law,  mamma 
said. 

But  they  were  not  all  so  cruel  as  the  law, 
for  there  was  one  poor  little  yellow  dog,  with 
such  sad  eyes,  who  used  to  steal  up  the  back 
way,  through  the  grove,  to  call  on  me,  and 
try  to  find  a  stray  bone  in  the  waste-bucket; 

47 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  he  hadn't  a  bit  of  a  collar,  nor  number, 
and  there  wasn't  a  bit  of  money  in  his  home 
to  buy  his  life  when  May-day  came. 

For  oh,  it  was  such  a  pitiful  home!  Only 
a  couple  of  bare  rooms,  where  a  poor  widow 
and  her  boy  sat  sorrowfully  thinking  what 
dreadful  fate  might  befall  dear  little  Gyp. 
He  was  so  dear  to  them,  because  Sissy  had 
loved  him  so. 

Sissy  with  her  yellow  curls  and  big  black 
eyes,  and  her  sweet  little  wThite  face,  that  had 
grown  thinner  and  whiter,  in  the  midst  of 
poverty  and  hardship,  till  one  wild  winter 
midnight,  when  eased  a  bit  from  her  rack- 
ing cough,  she  had  called  softly: 

"  Mamma,  Robbie,  don't  cry  —  Sissy  isn't 
'fraid!  Don't  you  'member,  Robbie,  the 
picture  windows  we  peeped  and  saw^  in  the 
new  stone  church,  the  day  'fore  you  got 
hurt?  The  picture  windows  of  the  good 
God-man  carrying  the  little  cold  lammie  in 
his  warm  cloak,  and  the  mamma-lamb 
wasn't  'fraid  to  let  him? 

"Didn't  we  see  him,  too,  with  poor  little 

children,  just  like  me,  all  cuddled  in  his  big, 

strong  arms  ?     Don't  cry  any  more.     He's  a 

true  God-papa.     He'll  take  care  of  me,  and 

48 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

he'll  take  care  of  you,  mamma,  and  Robbie, 
and  —  and  —  dear  little  Gyp!" 

Little  Gyp  had  come  creeping  up  from  his 
vigil  at  her  feet,  and  rooted  his  cold  nose 
under  the  little  snow-flake  of  a  hand,  which 
fluttered  over  his  head  in  a  weak  and  trem- 
ulous caress,  then  fell,  frozen  to  rest,  ere 
life's  hard  task  was  half  begun.  Then  the 
three  watchers  beheld  a  strange,  mystic  light 
grow  and  grow  in  the  little  face,  —  it  wasn't 
wan  and  sad  any  longer,  —  the  good  God- 
man  must  have  come  to  meet  that  little  child 
with  his  own  light,  shining  out  of  the  black 
dark !  For  Sissy  was  gone  —  gone  like  a 
fluttering  snow-bird  into  the  wild  storm. 

"Dear  little  Gyp!"  His  name  was  last 
on  her  lips,  her  last  caress  was  on  his  poor 
little  mongrel  head;  and  his  quavering  wail 
was  first  to  rise  above  the  weird  night  wind, 
while  the  other  two  wept  in  silence. 

Surely,  in  this  the  third  year  of  her  widow- 
hood, sorrow  had  not  come  single-handed  to 
Myra  Draper.  Poor  Robbie's  bright,  hope- 
ful boyhood,  bright  in  spite  of  poverty  and 
deprivation,  had  been  overcast  with  a  cruel 
blow;  he  was  a  hopeless  cripple,  his  strong 
right  hand  blown  to  atoms  with  a  giant- 

49 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

powder  cracker,  on  Fourth-of-July  day,  as 
he  tried  to  snatch  the  dangerous  missile 
from  the  car-rail. 

"I  didn't  put  it  there,  mother!"  he 
groaned,  as  he  saw  her  agony  when  they 
brought  him  in.  "I  tried  to  stop  the  boys 
from  putting  it  there,  and  when  I  saw  the 
car  coming,  full  of  people  all  clinging  to  the 
sides,  and  the  fuse  burning  short,  I  thought 
they  would  be  hurt.  Little  Gyp  was  going 
to  grab  it  ahead  of  me,  but  I  pulled  him 
back  and  saved  him,  'cause  Sissy  loves  him 
so,  but  I,  --  I  was  too  late,  --  my  hand  is 
gone,  —  and  you, --you  needed  my  work 
so,  mother!"  And  the  brave  boy  broke 
down  at  thought  of  his  mother's  suffering, 
when  he  had  borne  his  own  pain  and  misery 
without  a  tear. 

The  world  went  its  way ;  the  widow's  dark- 
ened home  was  forgotten;  the  wise  City- 
fathers,  who  had  ruled,  against  popular 
opinion,  that  certain  importunate  venders 
should  disburse  cannon-crackers,  to  their 
own  profit,  as  safely  patriotic  for  Young 
America,  rested  secure  in  their  office  and 
their  income,  while  the  wolf  crept  nearer 
and  nearer  one  humble  doorway. 
50 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

For  now  the  poor  widow  was  deprived 
both  of  the  assistance  of  the  brave,  cheery 
Robbie  and  the  labor  of  her  own  patient 
hands,  for  she  could  not  leave  him  through 
weeks  of  patient  suffering  —  suffering  that 
might  have  been  mitigated  by  the  skill  and 
comforts  that  money  could  have  bought. 
But  there  was  no  money  to  buy  nourishing 
food  for  the  weak  and  suffering  boy,  nor  the 
failing  Sissy,  and  now,  alas!  that  her  little 
grave  was  green  in  Potter's  field,  there  was  no 
money  left  to  buy  Gyp's  faithful  life  for 
another  short  year. 

That  very  morning  they  had  heard  with 
terror  the  heavy  tread  of  the  stout  officer  of 
the  law,  as  he  filled  the  low  doorway  with 
his  brass-buttoned  front  and  rosy  face,  and 
blurted  out: 

"Now,  Widder  Draper,  I've  got  ter  tell 
yez  that  yez  jist  got  ter  pay  that  two-dollar 
taxsh  on  this  yer  little  yaller  dorg  o'  yourn, 
or  I've  got  ter  make  quick  wor-r-k  o'  gittin' 
r-rid  of  him!" 

Gyp  sprang  up  quickly,  before  the  burly 
officer  had  finished  speaking,  and  sliding  out 
between  his  legs  glided  away  like  a  little 
wraith,  across  lots,  through  the  daisies  and 

51 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

into  the  woods,  away  from  the  haunts  of 
men  for  a  long  mile,  till  he  came  to  the  edge 
of  the  peaceful  Potter's  field,  for  he  knew 
where  they  had  laid  her. 


A  wavy  white  birch  cast  its  flicker  of  ten- 
der green,  and  checkered  the  sunlight  on  a 
little  mound  of  upraised  turf  where  a  few 
wild  wood-violets  were  blooming.  Gyp 
threw  his  weak,  weary  little  body  down 
under  the  birch,  laid  his  black  nose  between 
52 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

his  paws  and  watched  that  narrow  patch  of 
earth,  chased  with  sunlight  and  shadow, 
with  sad-eyed  vigilance.  Sissy  was  sleeping 
there.  She  would  save  him  from  the  cruel 
law! 

Yes,  Sissy  had  said  the  good  God-man 
would  take  care  of  even  Gyp,  and  so  he  did, 
for  thus  it  all  fell  out. 

While  the  burly  officer  stood  awaiting 
some  answer  to  his  direful  threat,  poor  Rob- 
bie, with  his  crippled  arm  slung  in  an  old 
black  kerchief,  stood  silent  with  wan  face 
and  quivering  lip ;  the  mother  tried  to  articu- 
late a  broken  plea,  but  a  dry  sob  shook  her 
voice,  as  from  beneath  the  cover  of  the  worn 
old  family  Bible  she  drew  forth  a  treasured 
picture,  and  held  it  toward  their  persecutor. 

It  was  Sissy,  kneeling  beside  poor  Gyp, 
the  object  of  his  wrath,  her  slender  arms 
entwining  his  neck,  and  her  delicate  face, 
with  its  wind-blown  curls,  pressed  close 
above  his  head.  Her  great  dark  eyes  seemed 
to  look  the  officer  through  and  through,  in 
their  sweet  appeal,  as  he  stood  there  gaz- 
ing down  upon  the  photograph  with  which 
some  random  but  skilful  artist  had  presented 
his  little  poser  in  happier  days. 

53 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

'You'll  have  to  hunt  him,  sir,  by  Sissy's 
grave,    for    we've    no    money.      There's  - 
there's   where   you'll   find   him!"    came   in 
hopeless,  broken  tones. 

But  now  the  big  man  had  lost  his  voice, 
and  a  lump  was  growing  in  his  throat.  He 
couldn't  see  the  picture  clear  any  longer,  but 
a  real  child's  face  came  close  between,  so 
close  to  his,  in  all  its  delicate  pearl  and  pink 
coloring,  its  halo  of  sunlit  hair,  its  pure, 
pleading  eyes  —  did  Sissy  really  come  back 
to  plead  for  poor  hunted  Gyp  ?  Maybe  so. 

For  something  very  strange  happened;  all 
of  a  sudden  something  clinked  and  grew 
heavy  in  the  officer's  pocket,  and  he  thought 
confusedly  about  burnt  holes  in  his  treas- 
ury, and  as  suddenly  rammed  his  fat  hands 
down  to  the  very  depths  and  brought  up 
two  big  silver  dollars,  and  a  silver  half  be- 
sides, and  threw  them  down  with  a  ringing 
clatter  on  the  wooden  table.  His  voice  was 
thick  and  husky,  but  they  heard  him  say: 

"By  the  Holy  Child!  that  little  gal's 
grave's  off  my  beat,  I  be  thinkin',  Widder 
Draper,  an  'fore  that  yaller  dorg  o'  yourn 
crosses  me  parth  agin,  you  sind  thim  two 
silver  dollars  down  ter  the  gintry  at  City 
54 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Hall,  and,  do  yer  mind,  yer  put  this  tother 
half  inter  a  new  sth-r-ap  fur  'is  neck,  wid  'is 
noomber  on,  too!"  and  before  mother  and 
son  could  comprehend  what  he  had  done, 
big,  bluff  officer  Mack  was  stumping  off 
down  the  street. 

Nor  was  that  all,  for  when  little  Gyp  ap- 
peared next  day  with  his  spick-span  collar  * 
the  story  seemed  to  travel  with  him,  and  the 
people  began  to  wake  up  to  the  fact  that  a 
sad,  long-drawn  tragedy  had  been  passing  at 
their  very  doors,  while  they  had  been  seeking 
for  something  new  under  the  sun  to  stir 
their  emotions,  and  they  grew  ashamed  that 
the  bluff  executioner,  sent  by  the  law,  should 
have  been  more  merciful  than  they. 

The  widow,  from  that  day,  was  cheered  by 
many  gifts,  and  sympathy  which  went  fur- 
ther still.  More  skilled  attention  helped 
heal  Robbie's  poor  maimed  arm;  all  came 
just  in  time  to  save  his  spirit  from  breaking 
under  a  hopeless,  pitiless  fate.  Encouraged 
to  learn  to  use  his  pen  in  his  left  hand,  and 
supplied  with  decent  clothing  to  attend 
night  school,  a  few  months  found  him  fill- 
ing a  humble  position,  but  so  grateful  that 
once  more  he  could  aid  his  widowed  mother, 

55 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

that    something   of  boyish  hope  and  faith 
came  back  to  his  shadowed  life. 

I  heard  the  Widow  Draper  telling  all  this 
sad,  strange  story  to  mamma  one  day,  when 
she  came  for  some  work  she  could  take  home 
to  do.  Mamma  ransacked  her  attic,  and 
grandma's  too,  for  bright-colored  woolens 
for  Mrs.  Draper  to  braid  into  old-fashioned 
rugs,  for  she  knew  how  to  make  such  pretty 
ones,  and  mamma  said  it  was  kinder  to  let 
her  feel  that  she  was  earning  a  living.  All 
the  neighbors,  somehow,  got  the  mania  for 
Widow  Draper's  hand-braided  rugs  too,  and 
Robbie  delivered  them  from  house  to  house, 
after  his  regular  day's  work  was  done. 

Gyp  and  I  would  sit  at  the  Widow  Dra- 
per's feet,  and  listen  intently  while  she 
spoke  of  her  sorrow  and  loss,  and  when  she 
called  Sissy's  name  poor  little  Gyp  would 
put  his  forepaws  on  her  knee,  and  look  into 
her  tearful  face  and  whine. 

And  despite  all  their  subsequent  good  for- 
tune, poor  little  Gyp  could  never  forget.  I 
saw  him  stealing  away  through  the  wood, 
many  a  day,  going  to  watch  where  his  little 
love  was  sleeping,  for  he  felt  sure  she  would 
wake  some  day! 
56 


CHAPTER  VI 


"  YET  would  we  keep  thee  in  our  heart  — 

Would  fix  our  favorite  on  the  scene, 
Nor  let  thee  utterly  depart 

And  be  as  if  thou  ne'er  hadst  been." 

MATTHEW  ARNOLD. 

FLOSSIE  and  Baby  had  been  my 
little  fluffy,  snow-white  predecessors 
in  the  household;  and  Flossie  had 
been  a  little  household  god.  Mamma  al- 
ways told  of  his  wonderful  beauty,  his  soft, 
wavy  hair,  just  like  white  floss,  which  led  to 
his  name,  his  long,  delicate  limbs,  like  mine, 
she  said,  and  his  full  dark  eyes,  framed 
round  with  the  drooping  curls,  that  she 
parted  in  the  middle  and  combed  each  way 
over  his  forehead. 

"Dear,  beautiful  Flossie!"  she  would  say 
to  papa,  "he  was  one  of  our  wedding  gifts, 
you  know.  And  how  strange  it  was  he 
should  have  come  way  over  the  sea  from 
England  to  me  when  his  poor,  lonely  young 
master,  who  found  him  in  France,  had  to 
close  his  eyes  alone  among  strangers,  but 

57 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

spoke  his  last  word  for  the  little  creature 
who  clung  to  him,  and  charged  his  nurse  to 
be  sure  and  give  him  to  somebody  who 
would  love  him!" 

And  I  often  heard  her  tell  the  story  of  how 
little  Flossie  was  passed  from  hand  to  hand, 
till  finally  he  was  sent  across  the  Atlantic  to 
a  dear  old  English  Quaker  lady,  who  could 
love  him  but  could  not  see  him;  she  could 
only  feel  his  silky  curls,  his  dainty  feet,  and 
loving  kisses,  for  the  tall,  gentle  lady,  with 
the  calm,  sweet,  waiting  face,  was  blind. 

'Thou  art  too  playful  for  me,  thou  tiny 
waif.  I  can't  abide  thee  to  set  my  cap  awry, 
and  tumble  my  white  kerchief  so;  surely 
thou  wilt  cast  me  down,  some  day,  beneath 
my  feet,  when  I  know  it  not ;  I  am  moved  to 
give  thee  unto  yon  daughter,  and  she  and 
Aleck,  my  son,  will  surely  love  thee  well,  as 
thy  poor  dead  master  could  have  prayed. " 

And  so  it  was  that  Flossie  was  bestowed  at 
last  on  mamma,  for  papa  was  the  son  of  that 
dear,  gentle  lady,  the  English  Quakeress. 
Beautiful  Flossie  took  their  hearts  by  storm ; 
like  all  the  dear  little  first  things  that  come 
into  the  halcyon  days  of  new  wedded  life,  he 
was  a  sacred  memory  as  the  years  went  on. 
58 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"Don't  you  remember,  Aleck,  how  the 
people  on  the  street  would  stand  stock  still 
and  stare  at  the  little  beauty  when  he  had 
just  come  out  of  his  bath,  that  perfect  snow- 
white  ?  I  used  to  part  his  wavy  curls  way 
down  his  back,  and  trim  the  hair  close  on 
his  dainty  little  pink  feet  and  ankles,  so 
they  made  such  a  delicate  contrast. 

"  Just  think  of  him  as  he  used  to  look,  dis- 
puting the  sidewalk  with  a  dozen  tame  white 
geese!  And  don't  you  remember  that  icy 
winter  morning,  when  he  charged  down  the 
public  square  on  a  couple  of  Billy-goats  - 
how  he  slid  bump  up  to  their  little  bunting 
heads  before  he  could  stop  himself,  on  the 
glare  of  ice?  What  a  picture  it  made,  and 
what  a  contrast!  How  everybody  laughed, 
and  lots  tumbled  down  in  the  melee,  all 
agape  at  Flossie,  instead  of  watching  their 
own  footing.  Just  think,  Aleck,  that  was 
twenty  years  ago!  I  don't  suppose  sheep, 
and  goats,  and  tame  geese  are  quite  so 
plenty  in  the  streets  of  the  Quaker  City  now." 

But  it  seemed  that,  as  little  Flossie  grew 
older  and  lost  his  puppy  bravado,  his  fine 
nature  showed  itself  in  extreme  sensitiveness 
to  harsh  sounds,  and  when  they  brought  him 

59 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

home  to  patriotic  New  England  with  them, 
there  was  one  day  that  was  his  Reign  of 
Terror,  and  that  was  Fourth-of-July  day. 
I  used  to  sympathize  so  with  him  when 
mamma  told  this  story. 

Once  they  left  Flossie  with  his  New  Eng- 
land grandma,  —  she  was  my  own  grandma 
too,  only  this  was  long  before  my  day,  - 
and  went  away  to  spend  the  Fourth  and 
the  night  succeeding  with  friends,  thinking 
Flossie  would  be  so  much  happier  curled 
safely  in  the  quiet  old  homestead,  away  from 
the  young  people  and  the  snapping,  shoot- 
ing hubbub. 

But  as  the  day  wore  on  and  the  night  ap- 
proached, his  sensitive  nerves  grew  more 
and  more  excited  by  the  distant  booms, 
the  nearer  bang-bangs,  pop-pops,  and  the 
snakelike  whiz  and  whir  of  the  sky-rending 
rockets  in  the  town  below.  And  grandma 
had  to  let  the  little  fellow  go  and  sit  in  the 
darkest,  deepest  corner  of  the  parlor  closet, 
where  he  crouched,  trembling  and  panting. 

Still,  grandma  felt  quite  safe  about  her 

little  charge  as  she  closed  and  locked  all  the 

outer  doors,  that  he  might  not  slip  away  into 

the  night  in  his  panic  and  terror,  till  bedtime 

60 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

came  and  she  swung  the  closet  door  wide,  to 
take  him  out  and  comfort  him;  then,  what 
was  her  consternation  and  alarm  to  behold 
only  emptiness,  —  no  pretty  little  Flossie  to 
be  found,  —  and  Stella  loved  him  so ! 

Candle  in  hand,  grandma  anxiously 
sought  the  little  fellow  in  every  nook  and 
corner  of  the  house,  over  and  over,  a  fruit- 
less search.  But  grandma  was  a  woman  of 
determination  and  energy,  and  never  suc- 
cumbed in  helpless  inactivity.  It  was  wax- 
ing toward  midnight,  a  late  hour  for  her 
staid  habits,  but  she  sent  across  the  street 
for  her  elder  son,  and  briefly  setting  forth 
the  dire  calamity  which  threatened,  she  con- 
cluded by  saying  with  the  air  of  a  comman- 
der-in-chief : 

"Now,  Flossie  is  in  this  house,  and  he's 
got  to  be  found,  dead  or  alive!  You  must 
go  with  me  to  the  cellar.  We'll  begin  our 
search  there,  and  keep  on,  if  we  end  it  in  the 
attic." 

The  elder  son  knew  grandma  too  well  to 
remonstrate,  and  led  the  way,  each  with 
candle  in  hand,  down  the  steep  stairs,  to  the 
great,  square,  dark  cellar  under  the  old- 
fashioned  homestead.  Into  every  black  bin, 

61 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  barrel,   and    recess    they  flashed  their 
tallow  torches,  all  to  no  avail. 

Three  square  brick  chimneys  were  set,  at 
equi-distances,  through  the  center  of  the 
long,  dark  cellar;  they  came  to  the  end  of 
their  search  near  the  south  one;  here  grand- 
ma stood  still,  loath  to  leave  the  field,  silent 
and  troubled. 

"It's  no  use,  mother  —  he  isn't  here," 
yawned  the  elder  sen,  wearied  with  the 
search,  and  not  attaching  quite  so  much 
importance  to  a  little  black-eyed  bunch  of 
white  ostrich  plumes,  in  view  of  his  own 
group  of  boys  and  girls. 

But  grandma's  only  response  was  to  call, 
for  the  seventy-seventh  time: 

"Flossie,  Flossie!   Come,  little  Flossie!" 

Then  she  stood  intent,  in  listening  atti- 
tude —  for  I've  heard  her  tell  the  story  over 
and  over  till  I  could  paint  her  picture, 
standing  there,  if  I  were  only  one  of  those 
artist  men  with  a  brush.  But  all  was  dark 
and  still  in  the  great  shadowy  cellar,  as  the 
echoes  of  her  voice  died  away  —  then  sud- 
denly —  ah,  what  was  that  ?  Was  it  the 
faintest  little  smothered  whine,  or  was  it 
the  night  wind  ?  Grandma  gave  a  start. 
62 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"Preston,  I  hear  that  dog  —  and  he's  in 
that  chimney!" 

Uncle  Preston  aroused  himself  from  his 
sleepy  lethargy,  thoroughly  alarmed  for 
grandma's  sanity. 

"Mother,  mother,  are  you  dreaming,  or 
are  you  crazy?  How  could  that  dog  be  in 
the  chimney  ?  Has  he  wings,  to  fly  to  the 
ridge-pole  and  come  down  chimney  like  a 
Santa  Glaus?" 

"Hush-sh-sh!"  whispered  grandma,  with 
one  stilling  hand  upraised;  then,  turning 
back  her  night-cap  off  her  best  ear: 

" Flossie,  poor  little  Flossie !  Hark!  Don't 
you  hear  that?" 

A  faint,  far-away,  mournful  little  whine 
broke  the  midnight  stillness. 

"That  dog  is  in  the  bottom  of  this  chim- 
ney, and  he's  got  to  be  gotten  out!"  cried 
grandma,  recovering  all  her  decision  and 
energy. 

"Oh  mother,  how  can  you  imagine  such 
a  thing  ?  If  he's  in  the  bottom  of  the  chim- 
ney, he's  dead  long  ago,  smothered  with 
soot.  I  tell  you  it's  only  the  wind  you  hear ! " 

"I  tell  you,  I  know  better.  I  tell  you,  I 
hear  that  dog,  and  he's  alive,  too;  but  he 

63 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

must  be  gotten  out,  and  that  quick,  if  we 
have  to  smash  a  hole  through  the  brickwork, 
or  take  out  the  whole  side  of  the  chimney!" 
And  grandma  deposited  her  candlestick  on 
the  cellar  stairs,  straightened  her  tall  figure, 
and  stripped  back  her  sleeves,  with  a  gesture 
that  always  meant  business. 

The  elder  son  saw  himself,  in  imagination, 
seeking  his  bed  somewhere  in  the  gray  dawn ; 
but  it  was  no  use  pooh-poohing  at  grandma 
when  she  had  once  made  up  her  mind,  so  he 
arose  from  his  seat  on  an  old  cider-keg, 
rested  his  long  hands  meditatively  on  his 
hips,  and  surveyed  the  solid  masonry. 

"  Preston,  you  bring  that  light  right  round 
the  back  side  of  this  chimney;  'pears  to  me  I 
remember  —  Ah  yes,  here  'tis !  I  thought 
there  was  a  flue  there!  It  just  this  minute 
came  across  me  how,  years  and  years  ago, 
your  father  let  neighbor  Doctor  Johnson, 
the  dentist,  bake  his  teeth  down  here,  just  to 
help  him  out.  We  put  this  flue  in  on  pur- 
pose for  him."  And  grandma,  as  she  spoke, 
was  twisting  away  with  eager  fingers  at  the 
iron  cover,  some  three  feet  above  ground, 
but  bedded  in  rust,  leading  to  a  small  round 
passage  into  the  chimney. 
64 


With  a  glad,  half-wailing  cry  of  recognition  and  relief." 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"Here,  mother,  do  let  me  get  at  it."  And 
with  a  few  smart  raps  with  an  old  steelyard 
weight  he  picked  up,  the  rusty  plate  loosened, 
revolved,  and  fell  to  the  ground  —  as  in- 
stantaneously, like  a  Jack-in-the-box,  out 
popped  a  little  sharp,  sooty  nose,  and  a  pair 
of  great  blinking  eyes,  with  a  glad,  half- 
wailing  cry  of  recognition  and  relief. 

"Well,  I'll  be  bound!  I'm  beat  this  time, 
mother!" 

"Well,  your  old  mother  isn't  so  easily 
beaten.  When  I  know  a  thing,  I  know  it, 
and  the  whole  world  can't  beat  me  out  of  it; 
something  told  me,  plain  as  day,  to  come  to 
this  cellar!"  rejoined  grandma  in  a  tone  of 
mingled  mysterious  awe  and  triumph. 

"Come  Flossie,  dear  little  Flossie;  grand- 
ma'll  help  him."  The  little  fellow  was 
wailing  and  whimpering  out  the  whole  story 
of  his  tragic  experience,  as  sure  of  her  sym- 
pathy as  a  child. 

And  with  the  most  careful  assistance  and 
encouragement,  that  his  delicate  body  and 
satiny  skin  should  not  be  injured  by  the 
rough  narrow  walls  of  the  flue  —  for  it  was  a 
tight  fit,  like  being  drawn  through  a  knot- 
hole —  poor  little  Flossie  was  slowly  worked 

67 


YOURS   WITH  ALL  MY   HEART 

and  pulled  out  to  view.  He  had  begun  the 
glorious  Fourth  a  snow-white  dog;  he  had 
ended  it,  at  midnight,  a  jet  black  one.  But 
grandma  didn't  care  a  whit  for  that,  so  long 
as  she  had  him  safe  and  sound  in  her  arms. 

The  poor  little  thing,  it  seemed,  in  his 
panic  and  fright  had  run  into  a  disused 
room,  from  whence  the  stove  had  been  re- 
moved the  spring  before.  He  had  dis- 
covered the  dark  funnel-hole,  and,  thrusting 
in  his  little  head,  he  found  such  blissful 
silence  and  fancied  security  from  the  fierce 
Fourth-of-July  bombardment  without,  that 
he  had  scrambled  in,  head  and  heels,  on-  to 
nothingness,  and  fallen  headlong  to  the  cel- 
lar below,  landing,  luckily,  on  a  soft  bed  of 
soot,  where  he  lay  a  hopeless,  helpless  little 
prisoner.  Yet  he  would  soon  have  per- 
ished of  fright  and  suffocation  had  it  not 
been  for  the  prompt  energy  and  determina- 
tion of  dear  grandma,  guided  by  that  mys- 
terious divining,  almost  prescient,  power 
with  which  she  was  endowed. 

How  thankful  mamma  was,  when  she  re- 
turned the  next  day,  to  find  little  Flossie 
alive,  and  the  same  dainty  little  loving,  snow- 
white  morsel  as  ever,  when  she  heard  the 
68 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

strange  adventure  from  grandma's  lips,  in 
her  own  graphic  way. 

Then,  always,  came  stories  of  free-and- 
easy  "Babe,"  another  little  curly  white  dog, 
only  he  was  dumpy,  and  woolly,  and  kinky, 
and  had  one  black  eye  and  one  blue  one,  and 
an  odd  little  fore  foot,  that  turned  straight 
out  to  the  right  side  as  he  patted  along. 

Babe,  it  seems,  was  purchased  as  a  sort 
of  companion  for  Flossie,  when  age  had 
dimmed  his  great  dark  eyes  and  he  sat 
patiently  waiting  in  the  shadow.  So  Babe 
would  lead  little  Flossie  about,  and  back  and 
forth,  to  and  from  grandma's  house.  If  he 
wandered  from  the  path,  especially  a  path 
shoveled  in  the  snow,  Babe  would  bob  up 
beside  him  and  crowd  him  over  into  the 
right  trail,  or  lead  him  gently  by  his  silky 
ear.  Sometimes  he  would  go  and  stand  in 
front  of  Flossie,  and  peer  into  his  still  bright 
but  sightless  eyes,  as  much  as  to  say: 

"  Flossie,  why  can't  you  see  me  ?  Your  eyes 
are  big  enough  and  bright  enough." 

But  Babe  was  no  such  delicately  or- 
ganized, clinging  little  creature  as  the  first, 
despite  his  name.  Flossie,  they  said,  was 
part  Italian  hound  as  well  as  poodle,  but 

69 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Babe,  under  his  poodle  cloak,  carried  a  big 
drop  of  Yorkshire  terrier  blood  --  and  a 
most  original  compound  he  was. 

He  was  hardly  willing  to  accept  the  tame 
position  of  companion  to  the  little  home- 
loving  Flossie;  he  had  too  much  live  business 
of  his  own  on  hand.  The  first  day  mamma 
tied  him  to  an  extra-sized  hassock,  to  gently 
persuade  him  to  take  a  few  hours'  rest  at 
home,  she  saw  that  same  hassock,  a  half- 
hour  later,  much  worn  and  bedraggled  from 
a  half-mile  run,  disappearing  behind  a  frisky 
white  ball  off  the  city  sidewalk,  through  the 
Bank  doors.  He  couldn't  allow  an  attach- 
ment twice  as  big  as  he  was  to  be  any  im- 
pediment in  his  busy  rounds. 

Hadn't  he  got  to  be  umpire  at  an  engine 
trial  down  town  that  very  day,  and  sit  right 
under  the  drippings  of  the  fire-box  till  his 
little  white  woolly  back  would  be  black  with 
cinders  and  coal-tar? 

Hadn't  he  got  to  go  down  to  Ramond 
Hobb's  stable,  where  the  tame  monkeys 
were  playing  round  loose,  and  make  a 
friendly  call  on  them,  and,  perchance,  divide 
a  little  of  the  burden  of  their  live-stock 
speculations  ? 
70 


Babe 


YOURS    WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

Then  to-morrow  --  yes,  to-morrow  Buf- 
falo Bill  and  his  "Wild  West  Show"  was 
coming.  He'd  got  that  on  his  hands,  the 
whole  thing!  And  sure  enough,  when  papa 
and  mamma  were  driving  through  a  side 
street  for  safety,  with  their  nervous  Topsy, 
what  was  that  fluffy  white  ball,  bounding 
ahead  of  all  that  bristling  array  of  down- 
sweeping  horns  and  trampling  hoofs  ?  It 
was  their  own  Babe,  leading  Buffalo  Bill's 
bisons! 

For  a  week  or  so  his  attention  was  di- 
verted by  the  completion  of  the  first  line  of 
horse-railroad  past  papa's  door,  and  he  ran 
ahead  of  the  big  road-roller  which  was  re- 
pairing the  street  on  either  side,  assuming 
command  of  all  operations,  till  mamma  was 
in  terror  lest  his  little  life  be  blotted  out,  a 
martyr  to  curiosity. 

But  when  the  very  first  new  shining  horse- 
car  went  jingling  up  the  hill  to  the  westward, 
on  the  short  line,  Babe  sat  thoughtfully  down 
upon  the  curbstone,  motionless,  save  now 
and  then  a  wise  bob  of  his  little  curly  head, 
as  he  cast  his  best  and  biggest  eye  to  the 
right,  for  the  return  of  this  splendid  two- 
horse  chariot  —  put  on  the  road,  no  doubt, 

73 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

for  his  sole  and  special  accommodation, 
though  he'd  never  seen  such  a  rig  before. 

Yes,  there  it  came,  —  ring-a-jing,  ring-a- 
jing,  --  never  mind  stopping,  for  his  little 
white  ostrich  feather  tail  flashed  past  the 
conductor,  and  the  saucy  little  figure  sat 
erect  on  the  crimson  velvet  cushion,  with  all 
the  sang  froid  of  president  of  the  road. 
Neither  was  he  deposed  —  everybody  was  so 
amused  at  his  off-hand  ways;  the  more  so, 
when,  as  the  car  turned  southward  down  the 
main  street,  then  eastward  toward  the 
station,  Babe  sauntered  out  to  the  platform, 
and  as  they  reached  the  corner  of  his 
master's  office  dropped  off,  like  an  old 
adept. 

And  so  he  assumed  this  privilege  ever 
after.  But  riding  was  only  a  side  pastime. 
He  went  to  the  city  park  evenings,  to  nib  at 
the  boys'  legs  and  hear  the  band  play,  and 
came  home  of  a  summer  midnight  to  the 
front  stoop  with  a  bravado  —  imperative: 

"  Ye-ep,  ye-ep  —  what  the  dickens  is  this 
door  locked  for  ?  Get  up  —  get  up  there, 
I  say,  and  let  your  jolly  boy  in!" 

"Oh,  plague  take  that  little  nuisance!" 
papa  would  yawn,  only  half  wakened,  but 
74 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY  HEART 

mamma  would  slip  patiently  down  the  stairs 
and  give  him  hasty  admittance,  for  she  re- 
membered how  once,  when  she  had  fainted 
and  fallen  in  a  room  rilled  with  escaping 
coal-gas,  she  had  dimly  heard  that  same 
little  strident  voice  of  Babe's,  wildly  calling 
to  wake  papa  to  her  assistance,  as  he  stood 
over  her  face,  kissing  her  and  howling  in  a 
frenzy  of  loving  apprehension,  finally  rous- 
ing and  saving  them  both  from  danger. 

Thus  admitted  at  midnight,  the  next  mo- 
ment his  little  dewy  feet  would  be  beating  a 
tattoo  on  top  of  papa's  head,  for  at  the  head 
of  his  pillowy  and  his  only,  would  the  little 
wanderer  take  his  rest. 

"Babe,  I  tell  you  to  quit  that  kicking;  I'll 
be  bald-headed  long  before  my  time!" 
would  be  the  next  ejaculated  reproach 
mamma  would  have  to  swallow,  for  the 
preservation  of  his  top-knot  was  a  half -im- 
plied responsibility  of  hers. 

But  she  would  quickly  extend  a  protecting 
hand,  both  to  guard  the  little  happy-go- 
luck  dreamer  from  a  possible  impatient  slap 
of  remonstrance,  and  to  guide  his  busy  little 
drumsticks  away  from  the  head  of  her  sleep- 
ing lord.  And  papa  and  Babe  would  both 

75 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

be  singing  sonorous  slumber  songs  again, 
long  hours  before  she  herself  could  win  the 
soothing  but  elusive  presence  of  the  drowsy 
god. 

As  for  Babe,  he'd  got  to  get  a  few  hours 
solid  sleep,  he  said  to  himself,  for  whether  he 
had  seen  the  big  picture  posters  on  the  bill- 
boards and  fences,  and  taken  it  all  in,  papa 
and  mamma  never  knew,  but  they  needn't 
think  he'd  been  spending  this  particular 
night  in  that  tame  old  city  park,  hearing  the 
band  play  "Shoo  fly!  don't  bodder  me!" 
He'd  had  business,  mighty  business,  on  hand 
-Barnum's  Circus  was  coming  to  town! 

He  would  have  a  surprise  for  them  in  the 
morning,  for  hadn't  he  been  down  to  the 
freight-house  half  the  night  his  own  self, 
unloading  the  whole  menagerie  ?  Hadn't 
he  got  to  be  up  and  off  betimes  in  the  morn- 
ing, to  get  hold  of  the  line  of  march  and 
arrange  the  procession?  So  he  slept  and 
snored. 

And  the  next  morning  he  did  surprise,  not 
only  papa  and  mamma,  but  everybody  else. 
The  great  Barnum's  Circus  was  going  to 
pass  papa's  office  in  its  line  of  march. 
Whether  Babe  connived  at  this  we  never 
76 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

knew;  but  all  the  little  folks,  cousins  Elsie, 
Roxanna,  Theresa,  and  Joe,  were  clustered 
on  the  front  to  see  the  sight,  and  papa  and 
mamma  with  them. 

On  came  the  outriders,  in  their  glittering 
trappings;  the  great  golden  carriages,  with 
their  mysterious  occupants;  next  a  grand 
cavalcade,  the  great  shining  black  Tartarian 
steeds,  the  famous  "trained  horses"  of 
that  day,  prancing  and  rearing  in  the  blare 
of  the  martial  music,  glittering  with  gold 
fringe  and  gold-broidered,  purple  velvet 
trappings,  as  they  champed,  and  nodded 
their  plumed  heads.  Then  the  children 
held  their  breath,  and  a  hush  fell  on  the 
crowd,  as  on  came  the  mammoth  cages. 
Great  noble-faced  lions,  too  proud  to  cast  a 
glance  of  their  kingly  eyes  on  their  biped 
captors,  rode  by  in  silence  profound;  glossy 
striped  tigers  glided  noislessly  back  and 
forth  within  their  prison-houses,  lashing 
their  tails  in  restless  motion;  mottled  leop- 
ards, fierce  panthers,  and  wild-cats  followed ; 
then  the  tall,  gentle,  treetop-eating  giraffes; 
close  behind  ambled  a  cavalcade  of  the 
tiniest,  darlingest,  little  Shetland  ponies, 
with  their  waving  manes. 

77 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Mamma  was  just  saying  it  was  only  a 
gilded  show,  with  gaudy  cages  covering 
much  that  was  sad  and  pitiful  behind  the 
glittering  exterior.  For  the  lions  and  tigers 
and  leopards  languished  and  suffered  as 
keenly  behind  those  golden  bars  as  in  a 
gloomier  prison,  as  they  were  jostled  wearily 
from  town  to  town,  hemmed  in  by  crowrds, 
dazzled  by  artificial  lights,  excited  and  har- 
assed by  the  ever-moving  throngs  gazing 
upon  them,  their  muscles  cramped  and  ach- 
ing, their  lungs  panting  for  the  free  air  and 
wild  life  of  the  desert  and  their  native 
jungles. 

But  her  words  of  pity  were  drowned  by 
the  roar  of  the  great  steam  calliope,  that 
burst  on  the  air  like  a  hundred  locomotive 
whistles,  in  weird  tune,  or  like  a  giant  bag- 
pipe. 

But  what  comes  now  looming  up  behind, 
rilling  the  narrow  street  from  side  to  side  ? 
Is  it  a  great,  grimy  Bedouin  tent,  overspread 
with  Oriental  splendor,  swept  on  a  desert 
cyclone  as  it  sways,  like  a  bellied  sail,  from 
side  to  side  ? 

No,  no  —  Wake  up !  Don't  get  to  dream- 
ing at  sound  of  the  weird  calliope,  but  if 
78 


"  The  monster  old  favorite,  with  his  tiny  escort, 
swaggered  by." 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

you  must,  then  dream  of  giant  jungles  in 
far  India,  for  hither  comes  that  old  child- 
love  of  this  decade  —  Barnum's  Jumbo! 

On,  on,  he  comes,  with  majestic,  swagging 
strides,  the  crowd  "Oo-oo-oo-ing!"  the 
children  wild  with  delight  at  their  first  sight 
of  this  great,  mammoth  bulk,  and  clamor- 
ous cries  arose:  "O  papa,  O  mamma,  can 
I  be  put  on  Jumbo's  back  this  afternoon?" 
For  Jumbo's  far-famed  gentleness  and  love 
for  the  little  children  had  driven  all  fear 
from  their  hearts. 

But  what  is  that  snow-white  atom,  swag- 
gering just  in  advance,  almost  between 
those  ponderous  feet,  with  all  the  strut  and 
jerk  of  a  drum-major  in  its  little  woolly 
legs,  right  foot  turned  squarely  out,  as  it 
tries  to  keep  time  to  the  brawling  calliope  ? 
His  head  askew  as  he  marches,  his  little  odd 
blue  eye  turned  up  to  the  mammoth  ele- 
phant's trunk,  which  sways  above  him, 
plainly  saying  to  his  self-chosen  charge: 

"This  way,  Jumbo!  Who's  afraid?  Just 
follow  me;  I'll  show  you  the  sights;  I'll  take 
you  round  the  town  —  I  own  it!" 

The  children  fairly  screamed  with  glee  at 
the  sight,  and  a  murmur  of  laughter  rose 

81 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

into  a  loud  babble  from  the  crowd.  Then 
came  shouts  and  calls,  and  finally  a  hoarse 
"Hurrah  for  Babe  Ballentyne!"  as  the 
monster  old  favorite,  with  his  tiny  escort, 
swaggered  by,  for  everybody  knew  Babe. 


CHAPTER  VII 


"HE  had  no  soul.'     How  know  you  so? 
What  have  we,  that  had  not  Chico, 

Save  idle  speech  ? 
If  from  the  Bible  you  can  read 
Him  soulless,  then  I  own  no  creed 
That  preachers  preach." 

The  late  "PEARL  RIVERS"  in 
Frank  Leslie's  Monthly. 

ONCE,  when  we  lived  in  our  own 
home  city,  papa  and  mamma  left  me 
one  evening  with  little  Ellie,  the 
new  Swedish  maid,  —  for  Christie  had  mar- 
ried and  gone  to  a  home  of  her  own,  —  and 
went  about  twenty  miles  away  on  the  train 
to  attend  a  concert  in  a  neighboring  city. 
It  grew  colder  and  colder,  and  when  the 
music  was  over,  and  they  came  out  in  the 
frosty  night,  the  people  wrere  rubbing  their 
ears  and  spatting  their  hands  to  keep  them 
from  freezing.  They  got  on  the  train  again, 
and  arrived  in  their  own  city  at  midnight. 
All  the  carriages  were  gone  from  the  station, 
and  mamma  said: 

"  Oh,  let  us  skip  along  to  the  house.  I  shall 

83 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

not  mind  it;  the  crisp  air  and  bright  star- 
light seem  so  refreshing  after  the  close, 
heated  train  and  concert-room." 

So  they  started  home  on  foot.  It  was 
very  well  where  the  tall  brick  buildings  shut 
off  the  icy  breeze,  but  when  they  turned  onto 
the  long  stretch  of  open  residential  street 
leading  to  our  home  it  was  biting  cold,  and 
they  had  to  watch  their  hands  and  faces,  and 
rub  them  briskly,  to  keep  Jack  Frost  from 
pinching  them. 

The  thick  ice  forming  in  the  brooks  and 
meadows  snapped  and  crackled  as  the 
frosty  air  bound  it  tighter  and  deeper  in  the 
cold,  glittering  starlight — the  only  sound  that 
broke  the  stillness. 

But  as  they  passed  a  lonely  corner  a  little 
shaggy,  neglected  Skye  terrier  crept  out  from 
the  shelter  of  a  disused  building,  and  ven- 
tured timidly  to  their  side,  then  taking  cour- 
age leaped  up  from  the  ground,  kissing  at 
their  benumbed  fingers. 

"  Oh,  you  poor  little  lost  doggie,  I  fear  you 
will  freeze!"  said  mamma,  stooping  to  pat 
his  ragged  mop  of  flaxen  hair.  Whereupon 
he  gave  a  little  responsive  whimper,  and  ran 
on  in  advance  to  the  next  door,  then  back  to 
84 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

them  in  the  street  again,  leaping  up  and 
kissing  and  sniffing  at  their  gloved  hands; 
then  crossed  to  the  next  house  door,  and  the 
next,  and  back  to  them  again. 

"I  wonder  if  he  lives  in  some  of  these 
houses  and  is  trying  to  tell  us  to  open  his 
door  ?  "  said  papa.  But  just  then  they  were 
surprised  by  the  gladdest  barking  from  the 
little  waif  at  the  door  of  their  own  home, 
where  he  had  run,  far  in  advance  of  them. 
Then  they  understood  it  all.  With  his  keen 
scent  he  had  been  running  from  house  to 
house,  hunting  for  their  home,  and  now  he 
had  found  it  he  knew  it  at  once,  as  he 
sniffed  vigorously  at  the  front  door  and 
around  the  portico  where  they  had  passed 
more  than  eight  hours  before!  The  frosty 
night  wind  could  hide  nothing  from  his  keen 
little  nose. 

He  dashed  down  the  street  to  meet  them, 
with  the  most  joyous  cries  and  antics,  then 
back  to  the  door  to  await  them,  with  the 
wildest  tail-wagging  and  pattering  of  eager 
feet.  He  had  found  their  home  for  them  — 
would  they  share  it  with  him  ? 

I  was  ensconced  in  my  castle  of  defense, 
the  great  black  walnut  bedstead,  in  mam- 

85 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

ma's  chamber,  but  all  night  long  my  alert 
ears  had  caught  at  the  slightest  sound,  the 
rumble  of  wheels  or  approaching  footsteps, 
but  all  had  subsided  into  silence,  and  little 
tremors  of  apprehension  shook  me,  as  I  lay 
curled  in  the  warm,  cozy  blankets,  for  fear 
dear  papa  and  mamma  would  not  come  back 
to  me. 

When  the  cry  of  the  little  midnight  visi- 
tant startled  my  listening  ears,  I  bounded  to 
the  floor  and  to  the  top  of  the  hall  stairway, 
saying  in  my  wrath: 

"  What  saucy  little  dog  dare  come  here,  to 
my  own  home,  barking  in  that  bold,  familiar 
way?"  All  my  very  own  home  I  called  it 
now,  forgetting  that  only  two  short  years 
before  I,  too,  had  come  to  that  very  door, 
begging  to  be  taken  in  by  kind  hearts. 
How  much  little  dogs  are  like  boys  and  girls, 
and  how  easy  it  is  to  get  proud  and  selfish, 
and  forget  the  sorrows  of  others. 

Just  then,  long  looked-f or  footsteps  sound- 
ed on  the  porch,  papa's  latch-key  clicked  in 
the  lock,  and  in  bounced  a  little  frowzy  figure 
before  the  door  could  fairly  open. 

A  tangle  of  silken,  flaxen  hair,  four  feath- 
ery feet,  two  keen,  topaz-colored  eyes,  with 
86 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

pink  lids,  just  peeping  from  under  his 
shaggy  top-knot  —  what  a  sight  he  was ! 
I  could  hardly  feel  jealous,  but  I  tilted  my 
dainty  nose  and  pretended  not  to  notice 
him. 

Papa  and  mamma  had  entered  the  hall, 
and  turning  on  the  bright  light  looked  up 
for  me  and  saw  me  "laughing"  down  upon 
them,  as  papa  called  it,  for,  in  anticipation 
of  his  playfully  pinching  my  slender  nose  in 
welcome,  and  expecting  the  funny  feeling  of 
his  fingers  every  moment,  I  had  gotten  into 
the  way  of  drawing  back  my  delicate  lips 
and  displaying  my  pearly  teeth;  and  from 
that  I  soon  learned  that  the  little  grimace 
pleased  him,  and  knew  what  he  meant  when 
he  said,  to  show  me  off: 

"Now  Fairy,  laugh!"  and  I  would  imme- 
diately display  my  faultless  teeth  again,  wag- 
ging and  tossing  my  head. 

"What  a  perfect  contrast!"  said  mamma, 
turning  from  my  slender,  graceful  figure 
and  great  shining  brown  eyes  to  the  little 
shapeless  tangle  at  her  feet;  "but,"  she 
added,  "there  is  something  beautiful  in  his 
perfect  homeliness." 

I  knew  she  was  praising  me,  in  a  way,  as 

87 


I  caught  her  admiring  glances,  and  I  began 
to  relent  toward  the  little  interloper;  and 
when  she  said,  "  We  must  give  the  poor  little 
fellow  some  warm  milk,  anyway,  before  we 
turn  him  out  into  the  night,"  I  led  the  way 
to  the  kitchen  with  an  air  of  self-righteous 
charity,  while  mamma,  tired  and  chilled  as 
she  was,  set  about  preparing  him  a  big  dish 
of  warm,  rich  milk,  which  he  lapped  dowrn 
with  thankful  relish,  blinking  up  at  us  with 
his  keen  yellow  eyes. 

Next,  some  chicken-scraps  and  tidbits 
were  added  to  the  feast  —  such  a  surprise 
party  to  his  poor  little  starving  stomach. 
Then  papa  called  him  into  the  hall  again. 
Slowly  and  ruefully  the  disappointed  little 
fellow  crept,  trembling,  down  the  stairs,  and 
when  papa  opened  the  front  door  and  said: 

"Go  on,  go  on,  little  fellow!"  he  flopped 
over  on  his  back  in  a  t\vinkling  and  put  up 
his  four  little  pink-padded  feet  imploringly, 
whimpering  piteously,  with  almost  a  baby's 
cry.  He  wormed  along  on  the  carpet,  on 
his  back,  his  feathery  pads  still  waving  and 
coaxing,  into  a  corner  under  an  easel  on 
which  sat  a  portrait  of  papa,  as  though  pray- 
ing for  his  compassion,  and  just  beyond  his 
88 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

reach,  while  the  cold  blast  from  the  open 
door  made  us  all  shiver. 

Papa  tried  to  pick  him  up,  but  the  dog 
raised  such  a  pathetic,  coaxing  cry  he  closed 
the  door  and  said: 

"It's  no  use,  mother;  I've  no  heart  to  put 
the  little  fellow  out  this  awful  night,  even  if 
he  didn't  beg  so.  See  how  the  frost  is  gath- 
ering on  the  windows,  in  spite  of  the  hot 
furnace  fire;  can't  he  sleep  in  the  kitchen?" 

"Oh,  yes, indeed!"  answered  mamma;  "it 
will  never  do  to  put  him  out;  his  little  feet 
would  be  frozen,  and  I  begin  to  think  he  has 
no  home  to  go  to.  He  cannot  do  much 
harm  shut  in  the  kitchen,  and  I  don't  believe 
Ellie  will  be  afraid  of  him.  I  will  wake  up 
early  in  the  morning  and  tell  her,  so  she  need 
not  be  startled  with  finding  him  there  unex- 
pectedly." 

Little  Frowzelly  had  stopped  crying,  but 
lay  on  his  back,  his  praying  feet  uplifted, 
anxiously  listening,  and  before  mamma 
could  finish  speaking  he  had  caught  at  the 
gist  of  it  all  and  went  leaping  gaily  back, 
two  stairs  at  a  time,  to  the  kitchen,  and  curled 
himself  in  a  cozy  ball  behind  the  great  warm 
range  for  the  rest  of  the  night. 

89 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Poor  tired  mamma  never  woke  up  to  tell 
Ellie  of  the  new  advent  in  the  kitchen.  She 
didn't  need  to,  for  Ellie  had  good  common 
sense,  and  more,  a  gentle,  pitying  heart, 
though  she  "yumped  a  little,"  as  she  told 
mamma  afterward,  in  her  cunning  dialect. 
She  only  laughed  and  said,  "W-a-1-1,  I 
detare!  you  little  flaxy,  frettled,  Swede  dod, 

all  of  a  tolor  —  what  sip  did  "you  turn  over 

•    '•, » 
in? 

So  the  cheery  breakfast-bell  and  the  faint 
fumes  of  the  spicy  coffee  were  the  first  things 
to  wake  us.  Mamma  laughed  to  see  me 
jealously  eyeing  my  pretty  basket  the  first 
thing,  to  see  that  our  new  lodger  had  taken 
no  liberties  with  it,  and  then  I  strutted 
toward  the  kitchen,  to  look  him  up.  There 
he  was,  wide  awake,  blinking  out  at  me  with 
his  topaz  eyes  and  beating  a  tattoo  with  his 
fringy  tail. 

After  breakfast,  when  the  morning  work 
was  done,  Ellie  of  her  own  accord  put 
little  Frowzelly  in  the  laundry-tub,  while  I 
stood  curiously  by,  and  gave  him  a  nice 
warm  bath,  and  dried  and  combed  him. 
We  found  his  hair  was  fine  as  silk  floss,  of  a 
pale,  glossy  drab  color.  I  began  to  feel 
90 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

quite  proud  of  him,  and  at  noon,  when  papa 
came  home  to  lunch,  I  playfully  pulled  him 
forth  by  his  feathery  feet,  to  show  papa  how 
handsome  he  had  grown.  He  would  let  me 
roll  and  drag  him  all  around  the  carpet,  just 
gently  touching  me  with  his  strong,  white 
teeth,  when  I  pulled  his  long,  silky  hair  too 
roughly,  as  much  as  to  say: 

"Oh,  gently,  gently,  little  Fairy  queen. 
Only  let  me  stay  here  and  share  the  crumbs 
from  your  table  and  the  merest  fraction  of 
love,  and  I'm  your  little  slave;  do  with  me 
what  you  will." 

Mamma  said  his  mouth  was  really  beau- 
tiful, with  its  ivory  teeth  and  pink  gums, 
and  she  said  he  had  the  loveliest,  forgiving 
disposition. 

For  four  whole  days  it  was  so  bitter 
cold  she  had  no  heart  to  turn  him  out,  and 
although  papa  had  put  a  notice  in  the  paper 
nobody  came  to  claim  him ;  so  I  had  a  splen- 
did time  every  day,  playing  rough  and  tum- 
ble, and  dragging  him  playfully  about. 

"That's  just  the  dog  for  a  baby  to  have," 
said  mamma.  "I  know  he  can  always  be 
trusted." 

So  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  day  she  spoke 

91 


to  a  young  man  who  was  engineer  in  papa's 
factory  about  finding  some  place  among  his 
good  neighbors  for  little  Frowzelly. 

"I  shall  be  more  than  glad  to  take  him 
myself,  for  a  companion  for  my  own  little 
baby,"  was  his  answer,  when  mamma  told 
how  bright  and  gentle  and  trusty  our  little 
visitor  was.  "I  shall  feel  much  safer  about 
him  while  I  am  away  all  day  long,  for  his 
mother  is  busy  with  her  household  cares 
and  the  baby  will  be  creeping  around  the 
door  all  alone  when  spring  comes." 

So  it  was  settled  at  once,  and  the  young 
man  came  that  very  night  and  took  the 
little  stranger  home  with  him.  I  was  sorry 
when  he  went  away,  but  the  young  man  told 
us  afterward  that  with  little  Frowzelly  and 
the  baby  it  was  a  case  of  "love  at  first 
sight,"  and  that  the  dog  slept  in  the  foot  of 
the  cradle,  a  faithful  little  watcher,  from 
that  night  forward;  and  as  the  months  went 
on,  he  and  the  baby  grew  to  be  inseparable 
companions. 

Best  of  all,  one  eventful  day,  when  a  ven- 
omous hooded  adder,  coiled  by  some  strange 
chance  close  by  the  door-step  where  the  baby 
toddled  off,  sprang  forth  to  bury  its  poison- 
92 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

fangs  in  the  fair  little  foot,  brave  little  Frow- 
zelly,  quicker  than  light,  sprang  to  the  res- 
cue, and  catching  the  viper  in  his  strong 
white  teeth,  shook  the  life  out  of  him  in  a 

twinkling  and 
laid  him  proudly 
down  at  the  feet 
of  the  terrified 
but  grateful 
mother. 

How   glad   we 
all    were,    as 
mamma 


said,  when  we  heard  the  story  of  the  rescue, 
that  we  had  entertained  a  little  four-footed 
angel  unaware  that  pitiless  night. 


93 


CHAPTER  VIII 


"  My  dog  he  had  his  master's  nose, 

To  smell  a  knave  through  silken  hose; 
If  friends  or  honest  men  go  by, 
Welcome,  quoth  my  dog  and  I!" 

From,  Old  Wessex  Song.     ANON. 

SKIPPUM,  my  first  little  chum,  and  I 
knew  an  awful  secret  once.     It  began 
in  the  pretty  white  cottage  where  he 
lived   and   ended   over  in  my  house.     We 
tried  to  tell  our  mammas  about  it,  but  we 
couldn't  make  them  understand,  for  they 
never  dreamed  of  such  a  secret. 

Skippum's  mamma  had  such  "a  treasure 
of  a  maid,"  as  she  called  her,  who  was  so 
pretty  and  kind  to  the  little  babies,  and  who 
always  met  her  mistress  with  a  refreshing 
drink  of  ice-cold  lemonade,  or  something 
equally  nice,  when  she  came  home  from 
riding  or  shopping,  and  brushed  out  her 
long  yellow  tresses,  and  helped  her  dress  so 
patiently,  and  who  loved  to  help  adorn  her 
with  all  her  prettiest  jewels  and  make  her 
look  so  girlish  and  beautiful,  that  of  course 
94 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

mamma  Wakeman  couldn't  help  calling  her 
a  jewel  too. 

But  sometimes,  when  the  young  mistress 
was  out,  and  Skippum  and  I  were  playing 
around  the  long,  low  windows  that  came 
way  down  to  the  veranda  floor,  we  saw 
poor  Inez  standing  before  the  pier-glass, 
trailing  the  ivory  satins  and  fleecy  lace 
dresses,  which  her  mistress  had  left  all  shut 
in  the  closet,  around  her  own  tall,  slender 
figure,  and  trying  the  gleaming  necklaces  on 
her  own  fair  neck,  and  fastening  the  bril- 
liants in  her  blue-black  hair. 

And  her  cheeks  burned  like  rubies,  she 
felt  so  proud  and  guilty,  too,  when  she  saw 
how  beautiful  she  looked.  She  was  "play- 
ing round  the  hook,"  as  the  little  boys  call  it. 

She  didn't  start  to  do  wrong,  she  said, 
when  it  was  too  late,  but  the  more  she  gave 
way  to  the  first  wrong  step  of  trying  on  and 
wishing  for  the  jewels  the  mistress  had 
trusted  to  her  care,  the  more  a  dark,  secret 
thought  haunted  her.  She  could  have  put 
the  bad  thought  away,  when  it  was  just  a 
little  black  thing  that  bobbed  up  in  her 
head, the  first  time;  she  could  have  said  to  it, 
"  Get  away:  never  speak  such  a  word  to  me 

95 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

again!  I  am  an  honest  girl,  if  I  am  working 
for  a  living,  and  my  fair  face,  and  much 
more  my  good  name,  are  worth  more  than 
gold  to  me;  and  some  day,  if  I  am  patient 
and  faithful,  I  will  have  honest  jewels  of 
my  own,  and  can  wear  them  openly  and 
proudly." 

But  no.  She  confessed  that  she  kept 
nursing  that  little  black  thought.  She  said, 
'Thinking  is  no  harm;"  but,  day  by  day, 
that  thought  was  growing  stronger  - 
stronger  than  her  weak  will  —  while  she  kept 
hobnobbing  with  it;  and  finally  there  came 
an  hour  when  the  wicked  thought  put  its 
strong,  black  claws  right  on  her  fast-beating 
heart,  and  made  her  hands  do  its  bidding, 
while  she  shook  and  shivered. 

Mistress  Wakeman  was  going  out  riding 
with  the  two  little  ones,  and  Inez  was  going 
with  her  to  tend  them.  Skippum  was  to 
stay  behind,  for  I  had  come  over  to  play 
with  him  that  afternoon. 

So  Inez  bustled  nervously  around,  and 
said,  "  Dear  Mrs.  Wakeman,  let  me  go  and 
help  you  and  the  little  boy  into  the  carriage, 
and  then  I  will  get  on  my  hat  and  cloak, 
and  bring  out  the  baby." 
96 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

But  the  mistress  said,  "  Oh,  no,  Inez,  don't 
hurry  so;  take  time  to  dress  yourself,  and  I 
will  be  leisurely  getting  seated.  I  do  not 
need  any  help,  so  long  as  you  bring  the 
little  one." 

So  she  went  out  holding  her  little  toddling 
boy  by  the  hand,  paused  to  admire  the  beau- 
tiful white  running-rose  that  was  garlanding 
the  porch,  then  walked  slowly  to  the  car- 
riage. The  maid  peeped  stealthily  out  at 
her,  in  such  a  queer  peek-a-boo  way,  that 
Skippum  and  I  stopped  playing,  and  began 
to  stare  at  Inez.  Then  such  a  strange  and 
sudden  sight  as  we  beheld! 

Inez  seemed  transformed  into  a  wild, 
guilty  thing  that  had  lost  her  reason.  She 
fairly  tore  all  the  drawers  from  the  pretty 
dressing-table  and  bureau,  and  threw  their 
contents  over  the  floor,  —  all  but  one  thing, 
—  the  dear  little  scarlet  velvet  jewel-bag, 
with  its  cunning  satin  pockets,  where  all  the 
precious  shining  stones  were  tucked  away; 
that,  with  shaking  hands,  she  thrust  into  a 
deep  pocket  she  had  made  that  very  morn- 
ing and  sewed  under  her  dress. 

The  baby  was  looking  right  at  her  with 
his  wide  blue  eyes,  and  she  looked  so  strange 

97 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

he  began  to  cry.  Skippum  and  I  began  to 
bark  and  scold,  and  to  run  back  and  forth 
between  the  open  door  and  the  carriage,  to 
try  to  tell  Mistress  Wakeman  to  come  and 
see, — for  we  knew  something  was  terribly 
wrong, —  and  we  would  not  stop  when  Inez 
slapped  savagely  at  us  with  the  hair-brush. 
Then  she  rushed  over  to  a  rear  window 
and  struck  at  the  glass  with  the  back  of  the 
brush  and  shivered  it,  and  unfastened  the 
lock.  We  barked  and  screamed  the  louder, 
and  so  did  the  poor  little  baby  too.  Then 
she  caught  him  up  rudely  and  flew  out,  try- 
ing to  slam  the  door  behind  her;  but  Skip- 
pum and  I  were  tearing  right  up  her  trail, 
and  we  got  tangled  up  and  squeezed  awfully 
hard  in  the  door.  She  nearly  tumbled 
down  with  the  baby  in  her  arms,  and  kicked 
at  us  spitefully  with  her  sharp  boot-heel,  but 
we  had  gotten  worked  up  to  such  a  pitch  we 
never  seemed  to  feel  the  kicks  then;  and  we 
followed  clear  to  the  carriage,  fairly  raging 
and  frothing  at  our  little  mouths,  just  as 
Mother  Wakeman  was  about  to  climb  out 
in  answer  to  our  excited  call,  only  to  hear 
that  naughty  Inez  say:  "Oh,  Mrs.  Wake- 
man, I  hope  you  will  excuse  me.  I  got  so 
98 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

fluttered,  I  couldn't  find  my  hat,  and  then 
the  baby's  bonnet-string  came  off  in  my 
fingers  when  I  went  to  tie  it,  and  I  had  to 
stop  and  sew  that  on;  then  those  pesky  little 
dogs  had  to  run  a  mouse  out  of  the  closet, 
right  over  my  feet,  and  scare  me  and  the  baby 
most  to  death." 

"  Oh,  never  mind,  Inez,  you  did  well  to  be 
so  quick,"  said  Mistress  Wakeman.  'You 
may  start  now,  Dennie." 

We  were  barking  and  pouncing  our  little 
fore  feet  from  side  to  side,  begging  her  to 
come  back;  she  did  turn  again  toward  us,  as 
the  horses  started  up,  and  say:  "I  never 
heard  those  little  things  make  such  an  ado 
about  a  mouse  before.  Are  you  sure,  Inez, 
there's  nothing  more  the  matter?" 

"Nothing,  that  I  could  see,  madam,"  an- 
swered Inez,  and  turned  away  her  burning 
cheeks  and  downcast  eyes  from  the  mistress, 
and  set  about  soothing  the  baby.  We  were  full 
of  wrath  and  fear  as  the  carriage  rolled  away. 

We  rushed  to  the  kitchen  and  pulled  old 
Becky,  the  cook,  by  the  dress  and  tried  hard 
to  get  her  to  come,  but  she  only  shook  us  off, 
and  said,  in  her  kind,  crooning  way,  for  she 
never  scolded  us  to  mean  it: 

99 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"Shoo  fly!  yer  leetle  foolish  varmints; 
what  fo'  yer  puttin'  yer  teefh  inter  dis  chile's 
bran'  new  caliker?  Doan  yer  s'pose  old 
Becky's  got'  miff  ter  do,  ter  cook  an'  iron,  ter 
say  nofHn'  a  mendin'?" 

Then  we  flew  over  to  my  house,  to  my 
own  dear  mamma,  all  breathless  and  excited 
—  stood  up  and  shouted  out,  together,  the 
dreadful  thing  that  we  had  seen.  But  she 
thought  we  were  telling  her  about  the  ice- 
man making  such  a  banging  at  the  ice- 
chest  in  the  rear,  and  she  only  said: 

"It's  all  right,  you  little  watchmen  —  he 
never  touches  mamma's  goodies."  And 
when  we  pulled  her  dress,  too,  she  went  out 
to  the  chest  and  got  some  milk,  and  put  a 
little  warm  water  in  it  to  take  off  the  chill, 
and  set  it  down  for  us.  Our  hearts  beat  so 
hard  we  didn't  feel  hungry,  but  our  little 
tongues  were  fairly  dry  with  shouting,  and 
we  lapped  it  down,  then  raced  to  and  fro, 
from  her  room  to  the  door,  to  try  to  get  her 
to  follow;  but  she  was  busy  writing,  and  we 
could  not  make  her  understand. 

So  I  told  Skippum  I  would  stand  by  him 
and  we  two  would  see  it  through.  We  crept 
sorrowfully  back  to  the  disheveled  room  and 
100 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

nosed  around  among  the  dainty  things  lying 
all  about  the  floor,  but  nowhere  could  we 
find  the  scarlet  bag  with  its  shining  con- 
tents. Just  then  came  the  sudden  rumble 
of  wheels;  Mistress  Wakeman,  some  way, 
couldn't  enjoy  her  ride,  and  had  turned  back 
very  early.  We  could  hear  her  saying: 

"  I  know,  Inez,  you  are  right  in  saying  that 
I  needed  the  air  and  ought  to  have  kept  on, 
but  some  way  I  had  a  feeling  as  though 
something  was  going  to  happen,  and  I  had 
better  come  home.  Maybe  it's  all  nothing; 
maybe  it's  only  a  shower  in  the  air  —  I  feel 
this  sort  of  oppressed  feeling  at  that  some- 
times." 

But  Inez  was  hurrying  in  advance  and 
opening  wide  the  doors,  and  when  she  was 
half  across  the  sitting-room,  in  sight  of  the 
lady's  room,  she  cried  out  sharply: 

"Why,  Mrs.  Wakeman,  what  have  those 
dreadful  puppies  done  ?  Oh,  my!  Oh,  my! 
It's  worse  than  that;  they  never  could  pull 
out  those  drawers  —  it's  —  it's  —  please  take 
the  baby  —  quick!  I  fear  I  shall  fall;  it's 
burglars !  burglars ! ' ' 

Inez  sank  into  the  first  rocker,  letting 
her  hands  fall  limply  each  side  the  squirm- 

101 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

ing  baby,  her  eyes  closed,  and  bereft  of 
further  power  to  speak.  Mother  Wakeman, 
true  to  the  strongest  instinct,  caught  the 
baby  from  the  nerveless  arms  of  the  fainting 
maid  and  stood  silent  for  a  moment,  with 
blanching  cheek,  surveying  the  wild  dis- 
order. 

Skippum  and  I  were  too  shocked  to  speak, 
even  had  we  the  power,  but  we  rolled  our 
eyes  and  showed  their  whites,  and  we  each 
in  turn  stepped  up  and  sniffed  towards 
Inez's  deep,  deep  pocket.  The  scarlet  bag 
was  there,  --we  could  smell  it,  —  and  we 
looked  at  mamma  Wakeman  with  such  wise 
and  knowing  glances,  if  she  wrould  only  have 
noticed  us. 

But  she  turned  away  hastily,  calling  sharp 
and  quick  to  the  coachman,  who  was  gather- 
ing up  his  reins: 

"Dennie,  drive  quick  as  you  can  to  Mr. 
Wakeman's  office  and  ask  him  to  drive  di- 
rectly back  to  the  house  and  bring  an  officer 
with  him;  the  house  has  been  entered  and 
robbed,  in  our  absence,  of  I  know  not  what." 

Dennie  listened,  bowed  without  a  word, 
snapped  his  whip,  and  away  he  flew.  Then 
the  mistress  stepped  quickly  through  the 
102 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

rear  room,  to  where  black  Becky  was  labo- 
riously ironing  the  last  beruffled  and  be- 
laced  white  dress  for  the  baby,  calling  as 
she  did  so: 

"  Come  here  this  minute,  Becky,  and  tell 
me  what  you  know  about  this  state  of  things. 
Have  you  let  any  pedlars  or  tramps  into 
this  house  since  I've  been  gone?" 

"Fo'  der  Lor's  sakes,  missus,  yer  doan 
tink  I's  gone  loss  my  seben  senses,  dat  I 
should  be  'vitin'  sich  twash  inter  der  house; 
what's  gone  happen  now?" 

"Come  and  see!"  said  the  mistress, 
sternly,  and  poor  Becky,  frightened  and 
wondering,  slip-shodded  along  after  her  to 
the  disheveled  room;  then  stood  breathless, 
with  hands  uplifted. 

"Der  Lors-a-massy,  missus!  Sure  'nuff, 
dat's  mor'n  tramps;  dem's  thebes  an'  rob- 
bers! robbers!  Oh,  'pon  mer  word  an' 
soul,  missus,  I  neber  heered  a  sound;  neber 
a  sound,  sabe  jes  dem  leetle  four-footed 
critturs.  Oh,  now  I  knows,  missus,  - 
bress  der  poor  leetle  honey  hearts,  —  dey's 
tying  ter  tell  old  Becky,  all  der  time  dey 
wor  puttin  der  teefh  inter  mer  bran'  new 
caliker. 

103 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

"  Oh,  der  Lor  forgib  me,  missus,  if  I'd 
only  'beyed  dem  leetle  four-footed  critturs 
He  sent,  I'd  cotched  dem  robbers,  dar  an' 
den,  an'  I'd  done  bang  der  life  out  ob 
'em!" 

Skippum  and  I  forgave  poor  Becky,  now 
that  she  had  bravely  given  us  the  credit  of 
trying  to  raise  the  alarm,  and  we  wished  we 
could  tell  her  she  had  a  better  chance  to 
"done  bang  der  robber"  just  that  minute 
than  she  had  before,  but  all  we  could  do 
was  to  stand  near  Inez  and  her  deep,  deep 
pocket  and  give  little  suspicious  growls. 

"  Oh,  let  us  hope  it  isn't  so  dreadful  bad, 
madam ;  maybe  we  scared  them  away  before 
they  got  anything;  I  thought  I  heard  some 
one  running  just  as  we  stepped  in,"  sug- 
gested Inez,  gathering  herself  up  as  though 
to  calm  and  cheer  her  mistress. 

The  mistress  started  with  blanching  cheek 
again  at  thought  of  the  possible  presence 
still  in  the  house  of  such  dangerous  char- 
acters, and  she  peered  nervously  into  the 
parlor  and  tiptoed  to  the  front  hall,  for  she 
herself  had  entered  by  the  veranda  door. 

"I'll  search  the  chambers  myself,"  sug- 
gested Inez,  apparently  gathering  courage. 
104 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"  They  might  have  rushed  upstairs  to  hide 
and  then  jumped  off  that  low,  flat  roof." 

"I'll  go  with  you,"  said  Mistress  Wake- 
man,  with  chattering  teeth.  "Maybe  we 
three  could  hold  'em  in  a  closet  till  the  police 
can  get  here." 

"  Jes  gib  dis  chile  a  hole  ob  der  wool,  an' 
dey'll  neber  knowed  what  hurt  'em ! "  snorted 
Becky  with  dilating  nostrils.  Just  then  an 
umbrella  slipped  in  the  hall  rack  and  fell 
with  a  little  rustle  and  thud.  The  three 
burglar-hunters  went  up  in  the  air  with 
three  muffled  shrieks  and  came  down  in  a 
close,  huddled  heap.  Inez  pulled  away 
and  tried  hard  to  keep  the  lead,  but  Becky 
kept  well  abreast.  No,  there  wasn't  a  boot- 
leg projecting  from  under  a  bed,  nor  a  man 
in  a  single  closet;  all  was  untouched;  had 
the  mistress  and  Becky  not  followed  so 
closely,  Inez  might  have  found  their  tracks. 

So  they  crept  downstairs  again,  and  Mis- 
tress Wakeman,  finding  the  coast  clear,  be- 
gan to  collect  her  ideas,  and  ran  her  eyes 
anxiously  over  the  confused  contents  of 
her  dressing-table  and  bureau,  thrown  so 
ruthlessly  about.  One  thing  her  thoughts 
centered  on  she  could  not  see,  and  Inez 

105 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

thought  of  it  too,  for  she  cried,  in  the  same 
breath : 

"  Oh,  the  jewel-bag !  the  jewel-bag  is  gone ! 
How  dreadfully  I  feel  for  you!  All  the 

lovely  gems  I  have  loved  so  well  to  see  you 

i " 
wear ! 

"Ob  course  der  jewel-bag's  gone;  dat's 
jes  der  ting  dey's  arter  all  der  time,  dat's  my 
'pinion.  Dey  used  ter  say,  'Set  a  thebe  to 
cotch  a  thebe,'  and  Miss  Inez,  doan  yer 
s'pose  I  ain't  got  no  feelin'  to  hev  dis  yar 
dre'ful  ting  cum  ter  pass  wid  dis  chile  stan- 
nin'  right  in  dis  yar  house?" 

It  seemed  to  Skippum  and  me  that 
Becky's  big  black  eyes  rested  long  and 
searchingly  on  Inez.  Mistress  Wakeman 
could  not  speak,  her  calamity  was  too  great. 
The  tears  welled  over  out  of  her  big  blue 
eyes,  and  sobs  shook  her  for  a  moment,  then 
she  burst  out  angrily: 

"They  shall  never,  never  get  away  with 
my  precious  jewels!  I'll  spare  no  cost,  nor 
leave  one  stone  unturned  to  find  them,  and 
I'll  bring  the  thief  to  justice,  whoever  and 
wheresoever  he  is!" 

"That  I  would,  madam,"  said  the  guilty 
Inez,  feeling  that  there  was  no  halting  in  the 
106 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY  HEART 

path  she  had  taken;  but  Skippum  and  I 
thought  we  saw  a  little  chill  creep  through 
her  at  the  words  and  the  determined  flash 
of  Mistress  Wakeman's  blue  eyes. 

Just  then  came  the  rapid  whirl  of  wheels 
and  Mr.  Wakeman  hurried  in,  followed  by  a 
wary-faced  little  man  with  a  long,  sharp 
nose,  too  big  for  the  rest  of  his  face,  and 
funny  ears  that  spread  outward  and  forward 
a  little,  as  though  to  catch  every  sound,  and 
the  sharpest  blue-gray  eyes,  that  seemed  to 
look  you  through  and  through.  This  weasel- 
faced  little  man  they  called  Mr.  Seeforth. 

"How  is  all  this,  Imogene?"  inquired 
Mr.  Wakeman,  excitedly;  and  the  lady  told 
the  tale  of  the  robbery  in  their  absence,  the 
overturned  drawers,  and  the  dreadful  se- 
quel —  the  missing  jewels. 

"  How  do  you  think  they  found  entrance, 
madam?"  inquired  the  sharp-nosed  man. 

"I  am  sure  I  can't  imagine,  Mr.  Seeforth, 
for  Becky,  my  cook,  was  standing  right  in 
the  wing  kitchen,  where  she  could  see  every 
door  to  the  house,  except  the  front,  and  that 
is  double-locked  all  the  time,"  answered  the 
mistress. 

Becky  had  retired  respectfully  toward  the 

107 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

kitchen  on  the  entrance  of  Mr.  Wakeman 
and  the  other  gentleman,  but  the  maid  hung 
about  in  the  room  adjoining,  within  ear- 
shot, and  when  she  heard  this,  she  stepped 
boldly  forward  and  said: 

"Pardon  me,  gentlemen,  but  it  looks  to 
me  they  came  in  that  window,"  and  she 
pointed  to  the  rear  window,  with  its  broken 
pane  and  open  lock,  which  none  had  ob- 
served, behind  the  partly  lowered  shade. 

'Yes,  yes, — I  see,  —  I  see,"  said  the 
little  man.  "  If  they  went  out  again  that  way, 
they  must  have  worked  quite  hard  to  reach 
back,  through  that  hole,  and  pull  the  shade 
as  low  as  that." 

But  Skippum  and  I  remembered  the 
broken  pane  with  fear  and  anger,  and  we 
barked  right  out  loud  and  long,  and  we  tried 
to  tell  this  little  man  with  the  big,  sharp  nose 
all  about  Inez  slapping  at  us  with  the  sting- 
ing hair-brush  and  then  smashing  the  glass, 
and  we  looked  back  and  forth  from  the 
broken  pane  to  her,  and  not  outside. 

And  we  thought  he  could  talk  our  lan- 
guage, for  he  took  his  eyes  off  Inez's  face  and 
began  to  look  intently  at  us,  as  we  pounced 
first  toward  her  with  angry  screams  and 
108 


"Fixed  his  keen  eyes  again  on  Inez" 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

then  toward  the  window,  and  then  back 
toward  her,  pausing  only  to  look  way  into 
his  blue-gray  eyes,  with  our  great  shining 
ones,  as  he  stood  before  us,  half  way  be- 
tween the  two  objects  of  our  wrath;  and 
when  we  found  we  had  really  caught  his 
sharp  eyes,  we  never  took  time  to  wink,  but 
poured  out  our  story,  over  and  over. 

Then  he  took  a  little  book  and  pencil  out 
of  his  pocket,  and  we  thought  he  was  going 
to  write  down  what  we  had  told  him,  for  he 
asked : 

"Have  these  two  little  dogs  been  in  and 
out  this  room  all  the  afternoon?" 

'Yes,  sir,"  said  Skippum's  mamma,  "but 
I  know  they  never  broke  that  glass." 

He  made  no  answer  to  this,  but  fixed  his 
keen  eyes  again  on  Inez,  and  said: 

"Miss,  you  noticed  this  broken  pane  be- 
fore your  mistress  did?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

'You  hadn't  mentioned  it  to  her?" 

"  I  didn't  see  it  till  just  as  you  were  coming 
in,"  stammered  Inez. 

'  Your  eyes  are  younger  and  brighter  than 
the  rest  of  us,"  said  the  little  man  drily. 

Then  he  went  over  to  the  window,  and 

111 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

raised  the  shade  and  looked  at  the  break, 
and  wrote  more  in  his  little  book.  Skippum 
and  I  went  over,  too,  and  put  our  little  paws 
on  the  window-sill,  and  looked  back  at  the 
flushing  Inez,  and  swelled  up  our  little 
throats  and  barked  again.  We  saw  the 
broken  glass  lying  on  the  outside  of  the 
window-sill,  but  we  didn't  think  he  was 
WTiting  that  in  the  little  book. 

"  Mrs.  Wakeman,  I  believe  you  mentioned 
that  your  maid  was  the  last  person  to  leave 
this  room,  before  the  ride?" 

'Yes,  sir,"  answered  the  lady.  "She 
came  here  to  take  the  baby  from  the  bed 
and  put  on  his  little  bonnet." 

"Miss,  were  these  two  little  dogs  in  the 
room  when  you  left  it?" 

"I  don't  remember,  sir." 

Skippum  and  I  were  turning  our  little 
heads  back  and  forth  between  the  sharp- 
nosed  man  and  the  maid,  watching  their 
faces.  We  knew  the  question  was  about  us, 
and  we  thought  he  was  taking  our  part,  and 
when  we  thought  again  of  the  stinging  slaps, 
the  shivering  glass,  and  mamma  Wakeman's 
red  velvet  jewel-bag  in  the  deep,  deep  pocket 
of  our  enemy,  we  bow-wowed  right  out 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

again  in  chorus,  and  looked  straight  at 
Inez. 

"Oh,  yes,  Inez,"  cried  the  mistress; 
"  don't  you  remember  ?  You  said  they  were 
racing  a  mouse  and  scared  the  baby." 

"  I  don't  charge  my  mind  with  the  doings 
of  two  silly  little  dogs,  to  remember  very 
long  in  the  face  of  a  sad  affair  like  this!" 
snapped  the  maid,  growing  redder. 

"That  will  do,  miss,"  said  the  little  man 
with  the  flaring  ears,  nodding  at  Inez  as 
though  she  might  be  dismissed,  and  she 
flounced  haughtily  out  of  the  room. 

"Madam,  you  have  perfect  confidence  in 
your  domestics,  I  presume?" 

"Oh,  the  most  perfect  confidence,  sir. 
I've  always  trusted  them  with  everything. 
Poor  old  Becky  showed  she  was  innocent  as 
a  lamb,  and  as  for  Inez,  she  was  with  me  all 
the  time,  of  course." 

"I  think,  madam,  with  your  permission, 
I  will  step  into  the  kitchen  and  speak  with 
the  one  you  call  Becky." 

And  the  little  sharp-nosed  man  stepped 
briskly  into  the  kitchen,  and  Skippum  and 
I  hustled  along  after  him,  fairly  bumping 

113 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

against  each  other,  we  felt  so  important  in 
the  case. 

Becky  left  off  hulling  the  big  red  straw- 
berries she  was  fixing  for  tea,  and  with  her 
plump  black  arms  akimbo,  her  dusky  face 
wearing  a  wise,  mysterious  look  beneath  her 
red  turban,  yet  with  calm,  unflinching  eyes 
on  his  blue-gray  ones,  awaited  the  onset. 

"Rebecca,  have  you  been  in  the  house 
from  the  time  your  mistress  left  in  her  car- 
riage to  the  time  of  her  return?" 

'Yes,  sah,  ebry  minute,  sah;  I  nebber 
leebed  mer  pose.  I  war  jes'  done  inein' 
der  baby's  dresses,  sah." 

"  Now,  Rebecca,  you  think  sharp.  Didn't 
you  step  out  into  the  back  yard,  possibly  to 
the  clothes-line  or  somewhere,  just  long 
enough  for  some  sneak-thief  to  slip  in  and 
enter  the  madam's  room?" 

"No,  sah!  Dis  chile  knows  de  'portance 
ob  der  'zact  troof,  in  troubl'us  times  like  dis 
yar.  I  knows,  too,  dat  der  poo'  young  mis- 
sus' jules  was  stole  wite  under  dis  yar  ole 
black  nose  ob  mine,  sah,  —  an'  it  looks 
mighty  'spicious,  --  but,  sah,  dat  black 
mistry  am  gwine  ter  be  clared  up  whiter 
dan  der  snow!" 
114 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Skippum  and  I  watched  the  wary  face  of 
the  questioner,  and  we  saw  his  grizzly 
mustache  twitch  with  a  suppressed  smile, 
and  a  kindly  light  just  glimmer  across  his 
blue-gray  eyes,  and  the  comforting  thought 
came  to  our  little  hearts  that  he  wasn't 
blaming  Becky.  We  loved  her,  'cause  she 
loved  us. 

Then  the  inquisitive  little  man  took  a 
turn  around  the  kitchen;  he  seemed  to  have 
forgotten  where  to  go  or  what  to  say;  he 
stuffed  his  hands  down  deep  in  his  pockets; 
he  whistled  the  first  line  of  the  tune  that 
Becky  sung  to  us  sometimes,  "Way  down 
upon  der  Swanee  ribber,"  and  studied  the 
figure  of  the  kitchen  oil-cloth ;  then  he  threw 
up  his  head  and  seemed  to  be  searching  for 
cobwebs  on  the  ceiling.  Then  he  burst  out 
on  the  same  track  again. 

"Rebecca,  were  those  two  little  dogs  in 
the  house  when  your  mistress  started?" 

"Dey  was  in  der  house,  sah,  when  she 
fust  got  in  der  carriage,  an'  dey  was  barkin' 
like  mad." 

"Whereabouts  in  the  house?" 

"  In  der  missus'  room,  sah,  an'  tearin'  back 
an'  forfh  ter  der  glass  do'r." 

115 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

"Who  was  in  the  madam's  room  then, 
Rebecca?" 

"  Der  baby  was,  fo'  sure,  sah,  'cause  I 
heered  'is  leetle  voice,  like  as  tho'  he's  greebed 
an'  skeert.  I  no  dars  ter  go  ter  'im,  'cause 
Miss  Inez,  like's  not,  tole  me  ter  mine  mer 
nigger  bizniss." 

"Did  the  dogs  stay  in  madam's  room 
after  the  maid  went  out  with  the  baby?" 

"No,  sah -- dey  runned  out  and  jes' 
screamed  at  der  missus,  and  den,  soon  as 
eber  she  dribed  away,  dey  jes  tackled  dis 
chile  an  put  der  teefh  clar  froo  mer  noo 
caliker.  Oh,  if  I'd  only  had  der  brains  o' 
Balaam's  ass,  in  dis  yar  ole  woolly  head,  I 
might  'a'  cotched  der  right  thebe,  for  'pears, 
sah,  dey  war  gittin'  in  'fore  Miss  Inez  an' 
der  baby  got  out  —  an'  dem  leetle  foh- 
footed  critturs  war  bustin'  der  gizzards  ter 
tell  us,  an'  our  ears  war  full  ob  wool." 

How  relieved  and  proud  we  felt  to  hear 
Becky  say  this,  but  we  grew  awful  scared 
when  the  sharp-eyed  man  said: 

"  Becky,  do  you  suppose  these  little  dogs 
really  did  put  their  teeth  through  your 
dress  ?  " 

"Wall,  sah,  dey  yanked  and  hanged  on 
116 


YOURS   WITH   ALL  MY   HEART 

it  'nuff  ter  chaw  a  piece  right  out  on't,  clare 
an'  clean,"  and  as  she  spoke  Becky  caught 
up  the  hem  of  her  bright  blue  stiffly  starched 
calico,  which  was  her  pride,  and  held  it  up 
between  the  little  man  and  the  light. 

Alas,  for  Skippum  and  me !  Sure  enough, 
the  stiff  hem  was  not  only  dented  over  with 
our  little  sharp  tooth-marks,  but  pulled  into 
little  crescents  of  eyelet-holes  in  several 
places  on  the  right-hand  side,  which  had 
been  toward  the  sitting-room  door  as  Becky 
stood  ironing. 

We  had  backed  off  in  sudden  alarm  at 
this  new  turn  of  affairs,  as  the  little  sharp- 
eyed  man  studiously  examined  our  mischief 
while  he  whistled  the  second  line  of  Becky's 
tune  —  "Far,  far,  away."  Our  little  ears 
and  tails  were  slinking  as  we  suited  the 
action  to  word,  and  backed  as  far  away  as 
we  could  into  the  corner  by  the  pantry  door, 
which  stood  ajar. 

"Dey  knows  dey  done  it,  sah.  See  how 
skeert  dey  is.  Bress  der  honey  hearts,  dey's 
only  tryin'  ter  tell  poo'  ole  Becky,  so  der 
white  sheep  needn't  suffer  fo'  der  black 
one.  I'se  talkin'  'bout  souls  now,  sah  —  not 
skins. " 

117 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Just  then  my  sensitive  ears  caught  the 
sound  of  quick,  short  breathing  through  the 
half-open  pantry  door.  There  was  some- 
thing suspicious  in  the  sound,  and  glad  to 
turn  tail  on  the  torn  dress,  and  if  possible 
turn  the  little  man's  attention,  too,  I  pounced 
noisily  into  the  pantry.  There  was  a  pic- 
ture in  a  frame,  for  Inez's  handsome  face 
and  head  were  in  at  the  rear  window,  over 
the  mixing-bowl,  and,  as  she  jumped  hastily 
back,  she  struck  the  sash  above  her  with 
such  a  bump  that  it  caught  the  big  ears  of 
the  little  man,  who,  instead  of  following  to 
the  pantry  to  find  nothing  and  see  nothing, 
reached  out  quickly  and  opened  the  rear 
kitchen  door  to  the  north,  and  slipped  out. 
I  squeezed  between  his  legs,  in  my  zeal,  as 
he  went,  and  there  was  Inez,  just  disap- 
pearing around  the  lilac-bush  at  the  corner, 
with  one  hand  nursing  the  back  of  her  head. 

He  never  said  a  word;  he  only  whistled 
the  third  line  of  Becky's  song  —  "Dar's 
whar  mer  heart  am  turnin'  ebber,"  and  with 
the  air  of  a  man  "  dat  had  done  settled  dat 
sum  in  'rithmetics,"  as  Becky  called  it,  he 
stalked  out  of  the  kitchen  and  rejoined  the 
master  and  mistress.  Then,  looking  about 
118 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

to  make  sure  he  was  alone  with  them,  even 
to  glancing  out  of  the  rear  window  into  the 
shadow  of  the  big  white  lilac-bush  again,  he 
said: 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wakeman,  I  would  sin- 
cerely advise  the  close  searching  of  your 
waiting  maid,  and  her  effects.  I  am  certain 
the  loss  of  the  jewels  lies  with  her,  although 
she  has  had  ample  time  to  dispose  of  them 
-  we  shall  not  find  them  on  her  person. " 

"Oh,  sir!  how  can  that  be?  She  was 
with  me  all  the  time.  I  can't  consent  to 
such  a  cruel  thing,  to  disgrace  and  ruin  that 
poor  innocent  girl  for  life.  She's  above  all 
suspicion,  and  of  course  she'd  resent  it  ter- 
ribly. I  can't  lose  her  now,  in  my  nervous, 
upset  condition;  she's  a  perfect  jewel  of  a 
girl,  and  I  can't  even  lift  that  heavy  baby." 

The  little  man  looked  puzzled,  as  though, 
as  he  told  papa  afterwards,  he  could  follow 
any  clue  better  than  he  could  the  tortuous 
workings  of  a  woman's  mind.  Father 
Wakeman  looked  irresolute  and  helpless, 
recognizing  the  dire  calamity  of  losing  Inez, 
and  he  fell  to  wondering,  as  he  confessed 
later  on,  whether  to  pocket  the  loss  of  a  few 
diamonds,  more  or  less,  without  further  in- 

119 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

vestigation,  were  not  better  than  to  have  the 
whole  domestic  fabric  come  tumbling  about 
his  ears,  for  he  knew  his  pretty  girl-wife 
had  full  enough  to  tax  her  strength.  So  he 
suggested : 

"I  feel,  Mr.  Seeforth,  that  such  a  move 
may  be  a  little  hasty.  Why  not  examine  the 
premises  outside  ?  We  may  find  tracks  that 
will  point  to  a  different  conclusion"  —anxious 
to  get  the  little  man  off  the  servant  question. 

'Yes  —  Inez  suggested  that  they  might 
have  jumped  off  the  tin  roof,  upstairs,"  put 
in  mother  Wakeman. 

"She  suggested  to  me  that  they  got  in 
and  out  that  broken  window  she  discovered 
just  as  I  came  in,"  said  the  little  man  drily. 
"  However,  I  see  your  position,  Mr.  Wake- 
man, and  although  we  may  give  the  guilty 
party  some  start  of  us,  we  shall,  as  your  old 
cook  says,  *  clare  up  dis  black  mistry '  in 
time." 

"  Now,  Mr.  Seeforth,  I  don't  see  how  you 
can  possibly  suspect  poor  Inez,  and  never 
seem  to  think  about  Becky  being  right  in 
the  house  all  the  time." 

"Well,  madam,  we  in  this  business  can't 
fully  explain  our  convictions,  much  better 
120 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

than  these  little  dogs  can,  but  we  both  of  us 
are  pretty  sure  to  be  right  in  the  long  run. 
We  both  come  at  it  partly  by  intuition;" 
and  he  patted  our  heads  thoughtfully  as  he 
continued : 

"If  Becky'd  had  anything  to  do  with  the 
loss  of  your  jewels,  she  wouldn't  so  stoutly 
throw  away  the  chance  my  suggestion  of 
sneak-thieves,  in  her  possible  absence  into 
the  yard,  gave  her.  She  declares  she  was 
right  in  earshot  every  minute.  But,  of 
course,  Mr.  Wakeman,  we  will  thoroughly 
examine  the  premises,"  and  suiting  the 
action  to  the  word,  Mr.  Seeforth  led  the  way 
outside,  and  Mr.  Wakeman  followed. 

They  began  their  search  at  the  broken 
window,  where  the  glass  lay  outside  the  sill, 
and  on  the  moist  earth,  but  no  sign  of  a 
footprint  they  found;  then  they  stood  off  to 
the  rear  and  surveyed  the  whole  back  of  the 
house  and  the  low,  flat  roof,  but  all  the  win- 
dows were  clasped,  inside,  above  it. 

Just  then  Skippum  began  to  snuff  and 
blow  and  paw  vigorously  in  the  grass,  in  the 
half- worn  path  leading  to  the  dark  oak  grove 
beyond  the  garden,  and  some  little  shining 
thing  bobbed  up  under  his  pawing  feet. 

121 


"See  this  —  see  this!"  cried  Mrs.  Wake- 
man,  who  had  followed.  "  They've  dropped 
my  little  silver  brooch  in  their  flight,  sure  as 
the  world.  Oh,  how  thankful  I  am  —  that 
clears  my  poor  servants,  anyway !  Oh,  there, 
just  look,  Fairy's  found  my  silver  hairpin!" 
as  I  tossed  up  a  pretty  crescent,  set  with 
brilliants,  from  the  deeper  grass,  nearer  the 
grove.  "Just  think,  those  dreadful  men 
dropped  these  as  they  ran  —  they  may  be 
hiding  somewhere  now.  Oh,  Mr.  Seeforth, 
I  don't  know  as  I  can  ever  live  in  sight  of 
this  dark  grove;  I  feel  as  though  it  may  be 
full  of  burglars  and  desperate  men.  Don't 
you  think  you'd  better  get  a  big  force  of 
police,  and  search  every  inch  of  that 
woods,  this  very  night  ?  I  can't  sleep  till 
you  do." 

But  Mr.  Seeforth  didn't  seem  much 
moved  by  the  new  phase.  He  only  an- 
swered : 

"What  would  the  burglars  be  doing, 
madam?  They  wouldn't  stand  still  for  a 
posse  of  men  to  walk  over  '  em.  Were 
these  things  in  the  jewel-bag,  madam?"  he 
continued. 

"No,  sir;  come  to  think  of  it,  they  just  lay 
122 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

loose  in  the  drawer.  Of  course,  they  are  of 
no  value  compared  with  the  real  jewels." 

'Yes,  that's  just  it,  madam,"  said  the 
little  man,  whose  keen  eyes  were  searching 
the  grass,  where  Skippum  and  I  were  pranc- 
ing around  and  snuffing  out  the  fallen  treas- 
ures, and  he  gathered  up  some  old-time 
studs,  made  from  silver  coin. 

'Yrou  notice  they  spilled  the  poorest  part 
of  their  booty,  in  every  case.  They  held  the 
mouth  of  the  real  jewel-bag  right  side  up 
with  care.  That  sort  of  men,  making  a  bolt 
for  liberty,  don't  wait  long  to  sort  out  and 
scatter  baubles  like  these,  to  set  folks  on 
their  track.  But  the  one  who  did  scatter 
these  trinkets  here  has  left  too  big  a  hole 
in  the  grindstone  —  a  blind  man  can  see 
through  that." 

But  I  smelled  tracks,  and  fresh  ones,  too, 
and  Skippum  took  up  the  same  trail.  We 
both  snuffed  and  ran  about  in  our  busy 
little  way,  then  started  forward,  and  the 
watchful  man  began  to  walk  carefully  and 
softly  behind  us,  motioning,  as  he  went,  for 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wakeman  to  remain  behind. 
We  led  the  way  most  to  the  deep  shadows 
of  the  grove,  where  night  was  falling,  com- 

123 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

ing  upon  a  bangle  bracelet  and  a  few  other 
trinkets  as  we  nosed  along.  Then  we 
turned  off  short,  and  backward  toward  the 
garden  again,  but  to  the  outer  edge,  follow- 
ing a  narrow  path,  where  we  had  to  go  single 
file,  into  a  deep,  dark  blackberry  thicket, 
that  had  grown  wild  and  tangled,  under  a 
knot  of  big  blossom-laden  pear-trees.  The 
little  man  was  following  noiselessly,  close 
behind,  but  we  all  came  to  a  sudden  stand- 
still --  there,  in  the  heart  of  the  thicket, 
stood  Inez,  with  a  white  face,  in  the  failing 
light,  as  she  tried  to  meet  his  keen  blue-gray 
eyes. 

"Did  you  drop  this  bracelet,  miss?"  he 
inquired  calmly,  as  he  held  up  the  bangle. 

"No,  sir;  it  is  Mrs.  Wakeman's;  the  bur- 
glars must  have  dropped  it." 

"But  you  walked  right  over  it,  just  now, 
and  did  not  seem  to  see  it.  I  wish  they  had 
chanced  to  drop  her  diamond  brooch  and 
earrings  instead,"  and  he  looked  steadily 
at  her. 

The  girl  bridled  quickly  and  flung  back 
at  him,  "They  only  sorted  out  what  they 
cared  least  for,  to  lighten  their  load." 

"Or  to  try  to  throw  us  on  the  wrong 
124 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

scent,"  he  said,  never  withdrawing  his 
searching  gaze  till  he  turned  slowly  on  his 
heel  and  moved  toward  the  house,  whistling 
the  fourth  line  of  Becky's  song,  "Dar'swhar 
de  ole  folks  stay,"  and  Skippum  and  I  fol- 
lowed close  on  his  footsteps. 

"I  don't  change  my  mind,  Mr.  Wake- 
man,"  he  said,  rejoining  the  lady  and  gentle- 
man. "These  trifles,  scattered  about  very 
likely  while  we  were  talking  together  in  the 
house,  only  confirm  my  first  thought;  but 
feeling  unwilling,  as  you  do,  to  suspect  your 
maid,  we  can  only  await  the  next  move. 
Meanwhile  I  strongly  advise  you  to  watch 
the  young  woman  in  question." 

"I  would  risk  my  life  that  she  is  innocent, 
Mr.  Seeforth,"  said  Mrs.  Wakeman,  with 
great  decision  in  her  tone.  But  when  the 
little  man  made  no  further  comment,  she 
gave  a  sigh  at  thought  of  the  lost  jewels,  and 
cast  a  shivering  glance  at  the  black  wood 
at  the  rear  of  the  garden,  and  bade  the 
little  man  good-evening,  as  the  carriage 
awaited  him,  then  went  into  the  house  for  a 
good  cry,  to  relieve  her  overstrained  feelings. 

She  gave  a  slight  start  and  shriek,  in  the 
gathering  dark,  for  there  was  a  little  rustle 

125 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

close  beside  her.  Inez  was  creeping  stealth- 
ily through  the  veranda  door. 

"It's  only  me,  madam;  I  want  to  do  or 
say  something  to  comfort  you;"  and  she  wet 
a  velvet  sponge  in  cologne  and  bathed  the 
aching  head  and  heated  brow  of  her  weeping 
mistress,  and  soothingly  smoothed  out  the 
golden  hair.  "Just  think,  madam,  though 
'tis  dreadful  to  lose  those  lovely  jewels,  how 
much  worse  it  might  have  been;  supposing 
they  had  crept  in  and  stolen  the  baby!" 
This  was  a  master  stroke,  for  Inez's  voice 
had  such  a  scary  bugaboo  tone  to  it  that 
even  Skippum  and  I  felt  the  hair  rise  along 
our  little  spines. 

"Oh,  merciful  heavens!  Inez,  where  is  the 
baby  ?  Where  is  the  baby  ?  "  fairly  screamed 
mother  Wakeman. 

"He's  all  safe,  right  here  in  his  crib, 
where  I've  been  watching  him  all  the  time. 
You  were  so  half-distracted  with  that  know- 
nothing  man,  quizzing  round  about  those 
two  silly  little  dogs.  What  does  he  s'pose 
they  know,  anyway?  I  thought  best  to 
stick  to  the  baby,  and  not  lose  him  with  the 
rest." 

Skippum  and  I  heard  her  wicked,  lying 
126 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

words,  and  we  understood  well  enough  she 
was  speaking  slightingly  of  us,  and  we,  too, 
screamed  out  angrily  in  our  own  language, 
and  said: 

;' You'll  find  out  one  of  these  fine  days 
what  we  'two  silly  little  dogs'  know,  Miss 
High-and-mighty.  We  know  -  -  know  — 
know,  and  we've  bow-wow-wowed  it  all  out 
to  your  little  'know-nothing  man'  already!" 

Mother  Wakeman  jumped  half  out  of  her 
chair,  but  as  the  baby  woke  and  began  to 
cry,  she  said: 

"  Oh,  you  dear,  good,  thoughtful  Inez  - 
and  his  own  mother  forgot  him!  Those 
awful  men  are  in  that  woods  now,  burying 
my  bag  of  jewels  under  a  tree,  and  if  he  had 
flown  round  and  done  his  duty  he  might 
have  caught  'em  at  it.  But  thank  goodness 
they  haven't  got  my  baby;  I've  got  him  left. 
Bring  him  here  to  me,  Inez.  I  want  to  feel 
him  right  close  in  my  arms." 

So  the  baby  was  brought,  and  with  a 
sudden  turn  of  feeling  mother  Wakeman 
laughed  away  her  tears,  and  father  Wake- 
man, when  he  came  in  just  then,  was  quite 
thankful  that  they  could  gather  so  cheerfully 
around  the  tea-table. 

127 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"That's  right,  Imogene,  cheer  up!  You 
shall  have  the  jewels  back,  or  I'll  buy  you  as 
many  more.  But  that  Seeforth  is  a  regular 
hound  for  tracking  game.  I  think  too, 
Imogene,  that  instead  of  staying  home  and 
worrying  and  wondering,  you  had  better 
take  the  two  babies  and  run  down  into  the 
country  to  mother's,  and  I'll  follow,  and  let 
Becky  and  Inez  have  a  few  days' vacation." 

"I  should  love  to,  John,  but  I  am  dread- 
fully afraid  I  should  lose  Inez  if  I  let  her 
loose.  I  wonder  if  Stella  wouldn't  take  her 
a  few  days,  till  she  gets  her  new  girl  ?  —  you 
know  her  little  Ellie  has  just  got  married. " 

Just  then  I  started  to  hear  my  own  mam- 
ma's voice  on  the  veranda.  "Excuse  me, 
Imogene,  but  is  my  little  Fairy  here?  I 
never  knew  her  to  stay  away  from  me  so 
long,  although  she  and  Skippum  both  came 
to  my  room  some  hours  ago  and  scolded 
loud  and  long  about  the  iceman." 

I  bounded  into  her  arms  —  it  seemed  so 
good,  after  the  strange  experiences  of  the 
afternoon.  I  had  been  so  excited  with  help- 
ing Skippum  that  I  had  forgotten  it  was 
growing  late. 

Then  mamma  listened,  with  wondering 
128 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

eyes,  to  Imogene's  story  of  the  robbery  in 
her  own  and  Inez's  absence  from  the  house 
—  the  loss  of  the  diamonds  and  the  finding 
of  the  scattered  pieces;  but  the  suspicions  of 
the  detective  were  withheld,  out  of  a  sense 
of  justice  to  the  poor  girl. 

And  she  ended  with  begging  mamma  to 
let  Inez  stay  for  a  few  days  at  the  big  white 
house  and  assist  in  the  kitchen.  "Only," 
she  added,  "I  would  like  her  to  sleep  over 
here  in  the  cottage,  just  to  have  an  eye  to 
its  safety.  She  says  she  isn't  a  whit  afraid, 
and  it  will  help  me  so  much,  Stella.  I  need 
a  change  dreadfully,  only  I  can't  afford  to 
lose  such  a  jewel  of  a  girl." 

And  with  me  right  in  her  arms,  kissing 
and  begging  her  piteously  about  something, 
she  knew  not  what,  in  her  close  attention  to 
Imogene's  story,  she  promised  to  take  the 
naughty  Inez  in,  out  of  pity  for  the  nervous 
young  mother.  Oh,  I  was  awfully  worried 
when  she  answered,  "Yes,  Inez  can  come"; 
and  when  she  came,  the  very  next  day  but 
one,  I  shrank  away  from  her  and  acted  so 
strangely  that  mamma  noticed  it  right  away. 

The  first  time  mamma  left  me  alone  with 
the  two-faced  maid,  I  crept  away  under  the 

129 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

big  black-walnut  bedstead,  where  no  one 
could  see  me  unless  they  put  their  heads 
way  down  to  the  carpet,  and  there  I  watched 
and  waited.  Sure  enough,  Miss  Inez  stopped 
putting  the  room  to  rights,  and  tiptoed  over 
to  mamma's  chiffonier,  and  got  her  pretty 
green  velvet  jewel-box  with  the  scarlet  satin 
lining,  where  lay  her  lovely  little  watch 
papa  gave  her  as  a  wedding  gift,  with  its 
wreath  of  black  enamel  and  sparkling  ro- 
sette of  diamonds  on  the  center  of  the  case, 
and  her  beautiful  Tuscan  gold  bracelets, 
with  green-and-gold  enameled  birds  of  para- 
dise on  the  clasps,  that  papa  gave  her  on 
the  thirteenth  anniversary  of  that  same  day, 
and  many  other  precious  things,  nearly  all 
his  gifts. 

The  brazen  Inez  put  on  the  pretty  watch 
by  its  long,  soft  chain,  and  clasped  the 
yellow-gold  bracelets  around  her  wrists, 
then  waved  her  round  white  arms  above  her 
head  to  catch  their  fine  effect.  I  could  see 
her  plainly,  with  my  little  chin  lying  close 
on  the  floor. 

If  Skippum  had  been  there  too  I  might 
have  had  courage  to  rush  out  and  bark,  but 
I  was  all  alone  in  the  great  house  with  the 
130 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

dishonest  girl.  Still  I  determined,  if  I  saw 
her  starting  to  put  dear  mamma's  precious 
gifts  into  her  deep,  deep  pocket,  I  would 
fly  out  and  fight  for  them,  tooth  and  nail. 
Luckily  the  door-bell  rang  out  sharply  just 
that  moment,  the  guilty  Inez  started  as 
though  it  had  been  a  thunder-clap,  and 
hustled  the  shining  jewels  back  into  the  box 
and  started  to  answer  the  bell. 

I  breathed  freer,  but  I  shook  and  trem- 
bled with  excitement  and  fear;  and  when 
mamma  came  in  toward  night  I  crept  out, 
still  shaking,  and  she  caught  me  up  quickly, 
and  found  me  cold  and  shivering  and  in 
dread  of  something. 

"There  is  something  going  wrong  in  this 
house,  Aleck.  I  never  found  little  Fairy 
hiding  away  so  before.  I  fear  that  Inez 
isn't  kind  to  her  in  my  absence.  I  don't 
feel  just  satisfied  about  this  whole  affair, 
anyway;  I  wish  I  hadn't  promised  Imogene 
to  keep  her,  and  I  believe  I  will  apologize 
and  ask  her  to  take  her  with  her,  since  she 
values  her  so  highly.  There  was  one  thing 
that  struck  me  so  curiously  yesterday. 
You  remember  that,  when  Inez  waited  on 
us  at  dinner,  she  had  on  the  loveliest  white 

131 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

dress,  with  the  yoke  and  sleeves  all  hand- 
made rickrack,  and  the  skirt  with  insertion 
of  the  same,  half  way  up,  and  that  beautiful 
cherry  sash  of  watered  gros-grain?  Well, 
when  Imogene  missed  her  train  and  drove 
back  unexpectedly  to  wait  with  me,  Inez 
was  nowhere  to  be  found,  although  she 
heard  me  exclaim  that  Imogene  was  coming 
up  the  walk,  and  request  that  the  table  be 
relaid  for  a  lunch  for  her.  And  when  she 
came  at  last  she  was  in  a  shabby  old  black 
dress,  and  explained  that  she  had  upset  the 
ice-pan  and  drenched  herself  to  the  skin,  and 
had  to  rush  and  change  her  dress ;  but,  some 
way  or  other,  it  happening  just  as  Imo- 
gene appeared  so  unexpectedly  set  me  to 
thinking." 

Mamma  rose  with  this,  still  holding  me 
in  her  arms,  and  took  out  her  jewel-box, 
she  hardly  knew  why.  Could  it  be,  I  was 
thinking  so  hard  about  it  and  trying  to  tell 
her,  I  made  her  think,  too  ?  Maybe  so,  - 
we  little  dogs  can  read  people's  thoughts 
like  a  book,  —  why  can't  they  read  ours, 
sometimes  ? 

She  sat  down  and  opened  it  on  her  knee, 
and  I  peeped  in  and  nosed  over  the  shining 
132 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

bracelets,  for  I  could  smell  the  naughty 
Inez's  fingers  on  them  still. 

"  'Pears  to  me  somebody's  been  trying  on 
my  bracelets.  I  always  leave  them  clasped 
around  the  little  satin  forms,  to  keep  the 
delicate  gold  braid  in  shape,"  she  said, 
frowning  slightly,  when  she  saw  they  were 
unclasped. 

How  I  wished  I  had  some  way  to  warn 
her.  I  kissed  the  watch  and  bracelets,  and 
I  kissed  her  face  and  eyes,  and  I  looked  over 
to  the  mirror  and  barked,  a  little  booing 
bark. 

"This  dog  has  seen  somebody  at  this 
jewel-case,  Aleck,"  cried  mamma  quickly, 
"  and  it's  got  some  connection  with  her  being 
so  frightened  and  trembling  when  I  came 
in  to-night.  I'm  going  to  lock  it  right  in 
the  safe  this  very  minute.  You  know  I 
don't  wear  these  things  so  very  much,  I  am 
so  busy."  And  suiting  the  action  to  the 
word,  mamma  laid  me  on  her  pillow,  with 
a  gentle  caress,  and  walked  over  to  a  great 
big  iron  box,  most  as  tall  as  she  was,  that 
stood  behind  a  drapery  in  the  corner,  and 
I  heard  the  heavy  iron  doors  open  and  then 
shut  with  a  bang  —  the  jewel-box  was  safe. 

133 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

The  very  next  morning,  when  the  prying 
Inez  tiptoed  to  mamma's  chiffonier,  all 
dressed,  this  time  to  make  her  escape  to 
town  in  the  absence  of  the  family,  she  saw 
only  emptiness  where  the  jewel-box  had 
stood.  She  stood  stock  still,  with  a  startled, 
half-evil  look  in  her  glittering  black  eyes, 
which  seemed  to  grow  bigger  as  she  whis- 
pered : 

"Suspected!  Suspected,  ha-ha!"  And 
then  she  muttered  to  herself,  "I'll  take  the 
next  train,  I  guess."  And  so  she  did,  but 
the  little  sharp-nosed  man  was  on  that  train, 
too,  and  he  never  lost  sight  of  her.  I  heard 
him  tell  mamma  afterwards  how  he  shad- 
owed her  all  that  day  from  place  to  place, 
and  when  night  fell  how  she  issued  forth, 
arrayed,  like  the  Queen  of  Sheba,  Ln  Imo- 
gene's  diamonds  and  mamma's  laces.  Then 
he  thought  the  hour  was  ripe,  and  he  walked 
quietly  up  to  her  with  another  officer  and 
said: 

"Miss  Inez,  you'll  not  be  surprised  to 
hear  that  you  are  my  prisoner." 

When  she  tried  to  slap  and  scratch  at  him 
in  her  sudden  rage,  the  other  officer  snapped 
a  rough  pair  of  iron  bracelets  on  top  of  all 
134 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

her  borrowed  jewels.  Then  poor  vain,  fool- 
ish Inez  began  to  realize  she  was  indeed  a 
prisoner.  She  turned  deathly  pale  at  first, 
then  she  arose  and  surveyed  herself  a  long 
time  in  the  big  mirror  of  the  miserable 
saloon  where  they  had  tracked  her,  turning 
around  and  around,  surveying  her  beautiful 
face  and  form,  tricked  out  in  all  its  stolen 
plumage,  as  though  it  was  the  last  reflection 
she  would  ever  behold,  then  gave  herself  up 
to  the  stern  hand  of  the  law. 

She  was  quickly  stripped  of  her  borrowed 
splendor,  and  the  deep,  deep  pocket,  where 
little  Skippum  and  I  had  witnessed  the  en- 
gulfing of  the  scarlet  jewel-bag,  soon  gave 
up  its  secret.  All  the  lost  jewels  were  found. 

Mamma  had  discovered  the  flight  of  Inez 
at  noon  that  day,  and  neither  she  nor  papa 
were  surprised  when  the  door-bell  rang  and 
I  flew  down  the  stairway,  barking  in  my 
shrillest  soprano,  for  I  had  been  alertly  sus- 
picious all  day.  Though  it  was  late  at  night 
the  little  sharp-nosed  man  with  the  keen 
eyes  entered,  and  said: 

"Madam,  I  have  to  inform  you  that  I 
have  your  quondam  maid  in  the  lock-up, 
and  you  will  be  glad  to  know  that  the  great 

135 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  mysterious  burglary  is  explained  --  the 
lost  diamonds  are  recovered.  And  I  must 
tell  you,  right  now,  that  this  little  Fairy  of 
yours,  and  her  black-and-tan  crony,  put  me 
on  the  right  scent  at  the  very  outset."  He 
stooped  and  patted  me  approvingly. 

"More  than  that --the  little  darling 
saved  me  the  purloining,  if  not  the  utter  loss, 
of  my  own  jewels  by  her  timely  warning." 
rejoined  mamma.  And  she  recounted  my 
disturbed  and  trembling  state  whenever  she 
left  me  alone  with  Inez,  and  the  scene,  the 
night  before,  which  led  to  the  locking  up  of 
her  jewels. 

"But,  madam,  I  fear  she  has  much  of 
value  in  her  possession  which  belongs  to  you 
in  spite  of  your  precautions.  We  could  see, 
and  in  fact  she  admitted,  as  much;  will  you 
not  go  and  examine  her  trunk  at  the  station- 
house?" 

"No,"  answered  mamma,  "I  shall  prefer 
no  charge  against  the  poor  girl,  whatever  I 
find  missing,  for,  beside  unpleasant  pub- 
licity, I  feel  to  blame  that,  against  my  own 
intuitions  and  better  judgment,  I  re-sub- 
jected her  to  temptation  too  strong  for  her 
weak  nature. 
136 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

"  We  all  do  wrong  in  the  thoughtless  prac- 
tice of  throwing  suddenly  upon  some  coun- 
try girl,  out  of  a  home  of  poverty  and  limi- 
tations, the  careless  charge  of  costly  jewels 
and  finery,  and  even  leave  our  open  purses 
lying  about,  with  contents  unnoted.  We 
quite  forget  that  what  to  us,  with  our  un- 
limited ability  to  purchase,  possess  and 
wear,  is  no  temptation  whatever,  may  be 
beyond  their  strength  to  resist.  We  must 
not  condemn  them  from  our  own  stand- 
point, without  due  pity. 

"No,  you  may  say  to  the  poor  creature 
that  I  shall  prefer  no  charge;  she  has,  I  find, 
in  her  possession  three  long  antique  gold 
chains,  heirlooms  'and  keepsakes,  very  dear 
to  me  because  they  were  worn  by  friends  no 
longer  here,  which,  tell  her,  I  hope  she  will 
have  the  heart  to  restore  to  me,  since  I  leave 
her  free." 

After  many  weeks  the  three  gold  chains 
were  restored,  for,  after  many  vain  denials, 
they  were  found  quilted  in  the  prison  garb 
of  the  unhappy  girl.  For,  alas,  poor  Inez! 
to  prison  she  had  to  go,  despite  mamma's 
leniency  and  the  surprise  and  sorrow  of 
Skippum's  mistress  when  she  found  that 

137 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

the  discovery  had  fallen  where  she  least 
expected.  Theft  after  theft  accumulated, 
and  they  told  sorrowfully  at  last  how  the 
heavy  iron  doors  clanged  gloomily  over  all 
her  youth  and  beauty,  the  same  as  the  iron 
doors  had  clanged  over  mamma's  jewels  — 
but  not  to  protect  nor  to  save. 


138 


CHAPTER  IX 


"THIS  dog  only,  waited  on, 
Knowing  that  when  light  is  gone, 

Love  remains  for  shining. 
This  dog  only,  crept  and  crept 
Next  a  languid  cheek  that  slept, 
Sharing  in  the  shadow." 

ELIZABETH  BARRETT  BROWNING. 


AND    now  a  big  and   happy  change 
came  into  my  life.     Papa  and  mam- 
ma   made    themselves    a    beautiful 
home  on  an  island  by  the  sea.     They  took 
me  with  them  as  they  paddled  back  and  forth 
during  its  building,  and  I  learned  to  love  a 
boat  as  well  as  I  did  a  horse.     I  would  sit 
for  hours  in  the  rocking  rowboat,  when  it  was 
anchored,  and  play  I  was  sailing;  and  al- 

139 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

though  I  didn't  love  the  feeling  of  the  cold 
water  very  well,  for  I  wasn't  a  water-dog,  still 
I  would  wade  out  to  the  boats  and  jump 
aboard. 

I  would  play  around,  so  happy,  all  day, 
because  I  could  be  with  them  on  the  quiet 


island,  and  watch  the  white  sea-gulls  and 

swift  kingfishers  wheel  and  dart  above  the 

waves,  and  listen  to  the  host  of  singing  birds 

that  gathered  in  the  shady  green  trees,  or 

twittered  around  me  in  the  bright  sunshine. 

Papa  nor  mamma  would  not  let  a  single 

hunter  come  on  the  island,  and  the  seabirds 

140 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  songsters  soon  found  they  were  safe 
there.  Even  the  lovely  gray  herons,  al- 
though they  are  so  shy  and  timid,  came  and 


waded  in  the  tall  marsh  grass  on  the  shore, 
stalking  through  the  shallow  water  with 
slow  and  stately  tread,  like  noiseless  gray 
shadows  at  sundown,  craning  their  long 

141 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

necks  and  turning  their  black-crested  heads 
to  listen  to  every  sound. 

The  cunning  striped  squirrels  would  run 
right  past  me,  in  and  out  the  stable  door, 
their  little  cheeks  all  puffed  out  with  the 
corn  papa  left  open  on  purpose  for  them,  as 
they  scurried  away  to  hide  it  in  their  little 
homes  for  winter. 

I  watched  the  towers  of  the  island  home 
builded  stone  by  stone,  and  finally  the 
great  cozy  fireplace  of  stone  and  sea-shells, 
and  my  little  heart  was  glad,  because  some- 
thing told  me  that  I  could  be  with  those  who 
loved  me  so  dearly  more  —  I  would  not 
have  to  wait  alone  till  nightfall,  as  I  had  in 
the  city  home,  and  hear  that  word  "office  " 
so  much.  There  was  no  such  thing  as  an 
office  on  the  restful  island.  It  was  one  long, 
bright  summer  dream  of  sunshine,  and  soft 
breezes  off  the  sea,  singing  birds,  perfume 
of  roses  and  lilies,  and  sounds  of  sweet  music 
at  eventide. 

They  brought  that  same  dear  old  lady  we 
called  "Grandma"  to  this  new  home,  and 
it  seemed  to  give  her  new  life  and  strength. 
She,  too,  had  kind  blue  eyes  and  soft  white 
hair,  and  her  face  was  young,  like  mamma's ; 
142 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

they  used  to  bring  her  great  armloads  of 
the  flowers,  and  she  would  fix  such  lovely 
bouquets  for  all  the  rooms. 

Grandma  loved  the  birds  and  flowers,  and 
in  her  city  home  she  used  to  feed  the  poor 
little  sparrows  every  morning. 

I  used  to  sit  on  grandma's  knee  and  listen 
to  papa  and  the  young  folks  singing  at 
evening. 

I  loved  music  dearly,  but  I  never  tried  to 
sing  too,  as  some  little  dogs  do,  but  when 
they  sang  mamma's  song,  as  they  called 
it,- 

"  There  is  an  Island  blest,  in  the  shelter  of  the  bay, 
Where  weary  souls  may  rest,  and  drive  dull  care 

away; 
An  Isle,  like  Venus  born,  tossed  upward  by  the 

sea, — 
No  art  can  e'er  adorn  its  tree-clad  hills  for  me ! " 

with  all  the  gay  and  happy  guests  ap- 
plauding, as  the  song  went  on  to  tell  of  the 
island  eagle  and  his  nest,  the  white  sea-gulls, 
the  youth-renewing  draughts  from  Hebe's 
spring,  the  purple,  wine,  and  gold  of  the 
sunsets  o'er  the  sea,  "like  the  Golden  Gates 
ajar,"  -  all  the  things  I  had  learned  that 
they  watched  and  loved  in  our  dear  island 

143 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

home,  —  I  longed  for  a  voice  to  join  in  the 
sweet  refrain,  but  could  only  look  from  one 
face  to  the  other,  with  my  singing  soul 
shining  out  of  my  big  brown  eyes. 

I  said  I  never  burst  out  singing  as  some 
little  dogs  do,  but  there  was  one  sweet  old 
piano  piece  that  made  my  little  heart  ache 
so.  And,  no  matter  where  in  the  house  I 
was,  mamma  couldn't  play  a  line  before  she 
heard  me  coming,  sobbing  and  pleading  for 
her  to  stop.  I  would  fly  up  to  the  piano  and 
try  to  hold  her  hands  from  making  the  voices 
sing,  but  it  was  her  right  hand,  way  up 
among  the  crying  voices,  that  I  tried  hardest 
to  hold;  and  sometimes  I  would  twine  my 
little  fore  paws  so  tight  around  her  plump 
arm,  and  pull  so  hard,  jumping  up  and 
trying  to  kiss  her  face,  that  she  would  have 
to  stop,  and  sometimes  say: 

"Fairy,  Fairy,  you  are  hurting  mamma." 

And  I  would  leap  up  in  her  lap,  and  try 
to  divert  her  from  beginning  again  by 
twining  my  little  fore  arms  around  her  neck, 
and  pressing  my  satiny  cheeks,  first  over  one 
eye  and  then  the  other,  so  she  could  not  see. 

They  all  wondered  what  made  me  feel 
so  at  this  one  tune  when  I  enjoyed  all 
144 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

the  rest.  I  couldn't  tell  myself,  only  it 
seemed  some  way  as  though  I  had  heard  it 
in  some  sad  dream,  years  and  years  ago, 
when  my  heart  was  aching,  and  I  tried  so 
hard  to  remember  when  and  where. 

But  usually  I  sat  so  still  mamma  would 


let  me  come  to  most  everything  in  the  big 
reception  room — the  musicales,  the  art  clubs, 
and  the  literaries,  as  they  call  them;  and  the 
ladies  would  always  take  time  to  give  me  a 
caress  and  call  me  a  little  beauty.  Mamma 
used  to  say,  "  Oh,  how  blessed  it  would  be  if 
every  forsaken  little  child,  every  neglected, 
lonely  heart,  of  dog  or  human,  could  only 

145 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

grow  in  grace  in  this  air  of  perpetual  love 
and  approval!" 

I  even  attended  my  cousin  Elsie's  wed- 
ding and  wore  a  great  cream-white  double 
bow  of  ribbon,  which  just  matched  my  ivory 
neck  and  breast,  and  set  forth  my  tawny 
eyes  and  ears  and  golden-brown  shoulder- 
cape. 

When  I  saw  the  company  giving  their 
hands  to  the  bride  and  groom,  I  ran  too,  and 
stood  before  them.  Cousin  Elsie  stooped 
down,  in  all  her  lovely  lace  and  flowers  and 
long  fleecy  veil,  that  fell  over  me,  while  she 
patted  me  and  said,  "Dear,  dear  little 
Fairy!"  I  thought  there  was  a  little  quiver 
in  her  voice,  and  I  kissed  her  white-gloved 
hand,  while  the  other  guests  smiled. 

Four  long,  bright  summers  glided  away, 
and  dear  grandma  was  with  us;  but  the  last 
summer  she  could  not  wander  around  the 
lovely  island  with  me  any  longer.  Her  steps 
grew  feebler  and  her  white  head  bowed 
lower.  Still,  she  was  always  cheery  and 
smiling;  and  when  mamma  would  awake  in 
the  rosy  sunrise,  and  go  to  her  room  with  a 
cup  of  hot  milk,  I  would  patter  along  after 
and  jump  on  the  bed  and  kiss  her  thin, 
146 


"  Cousin  Elsie  stooped  down,  in  all  her  lovely  lace 
and  flowers  and  long,  fleecy  veil." 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

white  hand,  to  say  "good-morning."  She 
would  look  up  and  smile  so  sweetly  on 
mamma,  and  say: 

"My  poor,  dear  child!  you  must  not 
worry  so  much  about  me;  I  don't  suffer  one 
bit  of  pain,  and  if  I  lie  awake,  I  have  such 
pleasant  dreams  of  my  childhood.  Clearer 
and  clearer  things  come  back  to  me  that 
happened  almost  eighty  years  ago  —  and  for 
this  very  reason  we  can't  make  childhood  too 
happy. 

"I  was  thinking  this  very  morning  how, 
when  I  was  a  little  tot,  not  more  than  three 
years  old,  I  got  in  the  grain-room  with  my 
little  curly-headed  brother,  Samuel,  and  we 
dipped  our  chubby  hands  into  the  great  bins 
of  oats  and  barley  and  corn,  and  tossed  the 
grain  back  and  forth  in  showers  over  each 
other,  till  the  whole  floor  was  strewn  with 
a  hopeless  mixture.  We  never  thought  how 
naughty  we  were,  until  the  door  opened  and 
our  father,  over  six  feet  and  seven  inches 
tall  in  his  stocking  feet,  stood  on  the  thresh- 
old, looking  at  us.  I  know  now,  better 
than  I  could  then,  what  a  handsome  man 
he  was;  I  can  see  just  as  plain  this  minute  as 
I  could  then  his  high,  white  forehead  and 

149 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

fine  brown  hair  curling  around  it,  and  his 
kind  blue  eyes,  as  he  stood  there,  never 
speaking  a  word,  but  looking  so  grieved  and 
sad.  Our  fun  was  all  over  that  moment; 
we  stood  in  the  midst  of  the  mischief  we  had 
wrought,  two  little,  guilty  culprits  with 
downcast  heads. 

'Then  he  called  us,  trembling,  to  him, 
and  pointed  to  all  the  ruined  grain  and  told 
us  how  hard  he  had  worked,  ploughing, 
sowing  and  reaping,  and  winnowing,  in  the 
heat  and  in  the  cold,  to  bring  it  all  there, 
nicely  stored  for  the  winter's  use.  Long 
before  he  had  ended,  we  were  wailing  pit- 
eously  in  our  pain  and  sorrow  at  what  we 
had  done. 

"I  can  see  now  why  he  did  not  punish  us; 
he  saw  we  were  punished  enough  already. 
Dear  father!  He  had  to  go  and  leave  his 
flock  of  eight  little  children  when  I  was  only 
eight  years  old  and  sister  Minerva,  the 
eldest,  only  ten,"  grandma  would  add  with 
a  sigh. 

One  funny  thing  happened  that  summer, 

that  made  grandma  and  all  of  them  laugh. 

One  hot  August  evening  the  sky  grew  black 

as  ink,  and  the  wind  whistled  around  the 

150 


"  We  dipped  our  chubby  hands  into  the  great  bins" 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

stone  tower  in  mamma's  room  when  we  went 
to  bed.  I  had  never  been  afraid  in  a  storm, 
so  I  went  to  sleep  with  the  rest,  —  my  little 
chin  in  papa's  hand,  --to  the  sound  of  the 
swaying  oak-trees  and  the  waves  plashing 
on  the  shore.  But  suddenly,  at  midnight,  I 
was  startled  wide  awake  by  a  blue  glare  of 
flashing  light,  which  showed  the  sea  churned 
into  white  foam,  and  the  salt  spray,  lifted 
by  the  fierce  wind,  driven  straight  in  at  the 
open  window,  followed  by  the  rattle  and 
crash  of  hailstones,  that  came  dashing 
across  the  chamber  floor;  while  over  all  was 
a  heavy  rumble  and  roar  that  jarred  the 
great  house.  I  would  not  have  been  afraid, 
even  then,  only  mamma  flew  so  quickly 
from  room  to  room  to  secure  the  windows. 
She  went  to  cousin  Elsie's  room  and  said: 

"Elsie,  you  are  sleeping  right  under  the 
tall  flag-staff,  and  as  you  are  a  little  timid 
anyway,  perhaps  you  had  better  go  to 
grandma's  room  and  lie  down  with  her  on 
her  old-fashioned  feather-bed,  which  they 
call  a  safeguard  in  a  tempest." 

No  sooner  did  I  hear  the  words  "grand- 
ma's room  "  and  "feather-bed,"  every  word 
of  which  I  understood  as  well  as  any  little 

153 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

girl  five  years  old  could  have  done,  than 
I  ran  trembling  through  the  dark  corridor 
and  plunged  under  the  blankets,  to  the  very 
foot  of  grandma's  bed. 

I  heard  grandma  say,  so  soothingly,  to 
cousin  Elsie: 

"There  is  nothing  to  fear,  my  child;  our 
Heavenly  Father,  who  marks  the  sparrow's 
fall,  is  watching  over  us,  and  He  will  not  call 
us  till  our  work  here  is  finished." 

The  next  morning  the  sunlight  gilded  the 
dancing  waters  of  the  bay  and  the  glistening 
dewdrops  in  the  oaks  and  pines;  the  lilies 
around  Hebe's  fountain  were  opening  their 
great  golden  hearts  of  perfume.  No  trace 
of  the  wild,  dark  storm  could  be  seen  —  was 
it  all  a  dream  ?  No,  for  they  all  laughed 
and  laughed  at  breakfast,  when  grandma 
told  of  her  little  panic-stricken  visitant  of 
the  night,  who  had  heard  and  obeyed  so 
promptly  the  order  to  take  refuge  in  her 
feather-bed:  and  all  that  summer,  when  I 
saw  that  flashing  light  and  heard  even  the 
distant  growl  in  the  sky,  I  ran  as  fast  as  my 
little  feet  would  carry  me  and  buried  myself 
in  this  ark  of  refuge. 

Poor,  dear  grandma!  The  next  summer 
154 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

I  went  again  and  again  to  her  silent  room, 
with   its  lovely  great  window,   which  was 


1 

rl 


built  expressly  for  her  to  look  out  upon  the 
whole  sweep  of  the  beautiful  bay,  and  1 
would  peer  at  the  unpressed  pillow,  then  go 

155 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  put  my  little  fore  paws  on  the  arm  of 
her  vacant  chair,  and  look  with  my  great 
inquiring  eyes  in  mamma's  face,  till  the 
sudden  tears  would  dim  her  sight;  for  she 
was  thinking  how  in  the  drear  March  days 
the  Father's  call  had  come  —  grandma's 
work  was  well  done. 

Mamma  seemed  sadder  that  summer, 
and  I  knew  it  better  than  any  one  else.  I 
used  to  creep  close  to  her  heart  when  we 
were  alone  and  lay  my  little  head  softly 
against  one  cheek  and  then  the  other,  over 
and  over,  to  tell  her  how  I  loved  her,  and 
how  sorry  I  was  for  her.  We  would  sit  that 
way  together  and  watch  the  great  red  sun 
go  down  into  the  sea,  and  away  off  in  the 
sky-country  she  said  we  could  see  a  brighter 
land,  through  golden  gates,  with  purple 
waves  and  rose-lit  sails  and  beauteous  isles 
of  eternal  rest,  and  the  changing  forms  of 
"many  mansions." 

And  mamma  pondered  in  her  heart  and 
would  repeat  the  sweet,  comforting  words 
dear  grandma  had  spoken  in  that  chill 
March  morning,  while  the  Angel  of  Parting 
waited  by  the  hearth-stone.  She  could  hear 
again  the  sweet,  tremulous  voice  repeating: 
156 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

" '  In  my  Father's  house  are  many  man- 
sions; if  it  were  not  so,  I  would  have  told 
you;  I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you,  that 
where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  also. ' ; 

She  said  hers  was  the  steadfast  faith  that 
had  lighted  her  feet  for  over  eighty  years, 
even  down  to  the  brink  of  the  silent  river, 


and  mamma  recalled  how  often  in  childhood 
she  had  heard  grandma  say: 

"Our  loving  Christ  will  do  His  work  well; 
we  can  trust  Him  for  that;  we  shall  meet 
and  know  our  true  friends  there;  we  shall 
be  made  as  happy  as  we  are  capable  of  being, 
but  we  must  put  selfishness  out  of  our  hearts; 
and  if  beautiful  homes,  and  trees,  and  flow- 
ers, and  singing  birds,  and  horses,  and  dogs, 
and  household  pets  are  necessary  to  our  full 

157 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

happiness  here,  they  may  be  there,  in  glori- 
fied form.  He  will  leave  nothing  lacking  in 
His  promised  work  of  preparing  a  home  for 
His  children  who  love  Him.'1 


158 


CHAPTER  X 


"  I  HOPE  that  yet  some  happy  days 

We'll  capture,  you  and  I, 
And  golden  stables  shall  be  yours, 
In  Heaven,  by  and  by." 

WILL  CARLETON.     (By  Per  mission.) 


iHE  next  summer  papa  thought  that 
the  faithful  old  bay  mare,  Nellie, 
had  done  work  enough  to  earn  a 
rest  in  her  old  age,  so  he  sent  her  to  lead  a 
free  and  easy  life  on  grandma's  old  ancestral 
homestead  —  to  roam  and  graze  in  the  broad 
green  fields  by  the  pleasant  streams,  and 
amble,  now  and  then,  to  the  country  church 
and  store  and  post-office  for  gentle  exercise. 
He  said  that  no  horse  of  his,  who  had  been 
a  faithful,  loving  member  of  the  family  as  old 
Nellie  had  been,  and  been  intrusted  for 
years  with  the  safety  of  all,  should  ever  be 
sold  off  to  suffer  to  death  by  inches 
among  heartless  buyers  who  were  bound  to 
get  the  last  dollar  out  of  her. 

A  couple  of  years  before  papa  had  brought 

159 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

home  a  tall,  long,  chestnut  mare,  named 
Dora  Dutton,  to  relieve  old  Nellie  of  most  of 
the  carriage-driving.  Mamma  used  to  laugh 
and  say  Dora  must  be  half  camel,  she  was 
so  docile  and  homely.  But,  when  occasion 
required,  she  could  throw  out  her  great  long 
fore  legs  in  fine  style  and  make  the  carriage 


*;>• . 
' 


fairly  spin.  She  looked  really  handsome 
when  she  struck  this  flying  gait  —  I  thought 
so,  anyway,  as  I  sat  proudly  on  the  seat  be- 
side papa. 

What  a  proud  day  it  was  for  me  when 
they  brought  home  to  the  island  a  hand- 
some chestnut  mate  for  Dora,  and  named 
him  Don,  and  with  him  a  brand-new  russet- 
lined  carriage.  I  took  the  very  first  ride  be- 
160 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

hind  the  pair,  all  in  their  new  harness 
and  white  collars  and  brown-tasseled  fly- 
nets. 

Don  was  only  a  big,  overgrown  colt,  papa 
said  —  only  five  years  old ;  but  he  watched 
Dora,  and  tried  to  do  just  as  she  did,  and 
they  made  a  gentle,  handsome  pair  on  the 
road.  When  a  boy  on  a  bicycle  darted  by, 
an  automobile  or,  worst  of  all,  a  screaming 
steam-engine  with  the  roaring  train  went 
thundering  past,  Don  trembled  and  crouched 
at  first.  But  when  he  saw  his  mate  all 
calm  and  fearless,  he  gained  courage  and 
stood  bravely  beside  her,  his  sensitive  ears 
pointing  nervously,  listening  first  to  the 
hissing  steam  of  the  engine,  which  seemed 
like  a  great  fiery  dragon  to  him,  then  back, 
to  catch  papa's  encouraging  words :  "  Whoa, 
Donnie;  its  a-1-1  right,  Donnie;  see,  Dora 
don't  mind  —  that's  a  good  boy!"  And  so 
he  kindly  taught  him,  till  he  was  as  brave 
and  gentle  as  she. 

Once,  when  the  horse-doctor  came  to  file 
Dora's  teeth,  where  they  had  become  sharp 
and  cut  against  her  cheeks,  so  she  could  not 
eat  well,  Don  pushed  up  and  stuck  his  nose 
in  the  doctor's  face  and  opened  his  mouth, 

161 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

to  try  to  tell  him  to  do  the  same  to  him. 
Papa  laughed  and  said: 

"  Give  him  a  little  dose  of  it,  doctor,  and 
see  how  he  likes  it."  But  Don  stood  still 
and  never  winced  at  the  rasping  file,  he  was 
so  anxious  to  share  everything  with  Dora. 
I  was  dreadfully  worried,  for  I  loved  the 
horses  so.  I  darted  suddenly  up  and  nipped 
the  horse-doctor  on  the  calf  of  the  leg,  just 
enough  to  let  him  know  there  was  somebody 
there  to  defend  them  if  he  went  too  far. 
I  made  him  jump,  and  he  looked  down 
quickly,  but  only  laughed  when  he  saw  me 
showing  my  little  white  teeth  at  him,  and 
said: 

"  What  do  you  s'pose  a  little  mite  like  you 

can  do  about  it  ?     You  can't  scare  anybody 

-  shall  I  fix  your  little  pin-points  ?"  and  he 

made  a  motion  with  his  file  toward  my  nose. 

Then  I  barked  and  scolded  fearfully  at 
him,  for  my  little  heart  felt  big  and  strong 
as  a  giant's,  with  love  and  care,  and  I  scared 
him  too,  for  he  put  away  his  pokey  old  iron 
and  said,  "They  are  all  right  now,"  and 
away  he  rode. 

Once  before,  in  the  city  home,  when 
mamma  had  hurt  her  shoulder  by  a  fall  on 
162 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

the  stairs  and  papa  hurried  in  with  a  strange 
doctor,  I  sprang  on  the  pillow  beside  her 
and  showed  my  pearly  teeth,  trying  to  growl 
like  a  big  bulldog.  And  when  the  strange 
doctor  began  to  pull  her  poor  hurt  arm 
about,  I  could  see  she  was  in  great  pain,  so 
I  leaped  upon  his  hands  and  tried  to  pull 
them  away  with  my  sharp  teeth  and  claws, 
and  papa  had  to  take  me  out  of  the  room. 
But  I  screamed  and  scolded  at  the  door  with 
all  my  little  might;  and  the  first  time  the 
maid  went  through  to  wait  upon  them,  I 
squeezed  in  after  her  and  flew  upon  the  bed 
again.  But  mamma  was  laughing  then, 
and  gathered  me  close  in  her  well  arm  and 
called  me  her  little  sweetheart.  The  doctor 
was  looking  at  papa  and  saying,  "You 
heard  that  shoulder  go  into  the  socket  with 
a  snap  —  it's  all  right  now!" 

I  knew  what  the  last  four  words  meant, 
and  I  fell  to  kissing  mamma  with  all  my 
might,  I  was  so  glad  to  see  her  safe  and  the 
color  coming  back  in  her  cheeks  again. 
The  doctor  had  big  black  eyes  and  a  black 
mustache  and  I  thought  he  looked  like  a 
dangerous  man;  but  when  he  patted  my 
head  and  said; 

163 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"  Some  dogs  know  more  than  some  men, " 
and  I  heard  all  talking  together  so  pleas- 
antly, I  felt  less  worried.  Still,  I  watched 
him  sharply  and  scarcely  winked  till  he  went 
away. 

But  near  neighbor  to  our  island  home  was 
a  good  doctor  whom  I  learned  to  love  dearly, 
he  was  so  kind  to  all  little  helpless  things. 
He  had  been  a  great  surgeon  once,  in  a  big 
city  far  away,  and  had  lost  his  health  work- 
ing so  hard  among  the  poor  people  in  the 
hospitals  and  going  without  his  sleep.  He 
became  so  ill  they  did  not  know  as  he  would 
live  to  get  here,  and  they  had  to  bring  him 
slowly,  laid  on  a  litter,  down  here  to  the 
beautiful  bright  sea.  They  carried  him 
aboard  his  own  boat,  the  Nhita,  and  laid 
him  in  the  fresh  air  and  sunshine,  with  the 
great  white  sail  flapping  over  him.  He  be- 
gan to  drink  in  life  and  health,  —  slowly  at 
first,  but  surely,  —  and  aunt  Mary,  who 
lived  right  aboard  the  yacht  with  him,  and 
nursed  him,  and  called  no  lot  hard  could 
he  be  spared  to  her,  began  to  hope,  as  the 
summer  days  drifted  slowly  by  and  he  began 
to  have  strength  to  sail  the  boat  up  and  down 
the  lovely  bay,  or  to  go  ashore  among  the 
164 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

wooded  hills  that  overhung  the  sea,  to  select 
some  beautiful  spot  for  a  home,  in  this 
balmy,  health-giving  air. 

Luckily,  they  found  the  loveliest  crest  of 
hills,  covered  with  pines  and  cedars,  right 
next  my  island  home,  and  aunt  Mary  called 
it  "Cedar-crest.' 


They  commenced  to  build  their  home  just 
where  they  looked  over  to  the  red  bridge, 
where  we  drove  across  with  Don  and  Dora. 
To  the  right  was  the  island  with  its  lovely 
winding  Current  River,  a  blue  arm  of  the 
sea  separating  it  from  a  smaller  island  which 
lay  before  them ;  off  to  the  left  was  a  pretty 
village  of  summer  cottages  and  an  old-time 

165 


YOURS    WITH   ALL    MY  HEART 

wharf,  with  its  anchored  fleet,  or  flock  of 
white  sails  scudding  out  to  the  broad  ex- 
panse of  sea  and  sky  beyond,  fringed  on 
either  side  with  jutting  spurs  of  pine-clad 
hills.  I  knew  this  dear  home  well  later,  but 
neither  family  guessed,  when  these  two 
homes  were  finished,  how  close  they  would 
grow  to  each  other. 


166 


CHAPTER  XI 


"HE  who  gave  thee  being  did  not  frame 
The  mystery  of  life  to  be  the  sport 
Of  merciless  man.     There  is  another  world! 
For  all  that  live  and  move,  —  a  better  one, 
Where  the  proud  bipeds,  who  would  fain  confine 
Infinite  goodness  to  the  little  bounds 
Of  their  own  charity,  may  envy  thee." 

ROBERT  SOUTHEY. 


ONE  fall,  they  took  me  with  them  to 
a  great  city  and  a  big  house,  where 
lots  of  strangers  seemed  to  live  to- 
gether.    We  did  not  climb  the  stairs,  but 
rode    up    in    a   cushioned    box    that    went 
straight  up  inside  an  iron  cage.     Mamma 
said,  before  we  got  out  of  the  carriage: 

"  I  shall  keep  little  Fairy  under  my  cloak, 
for  maybe  the  other  people  in  the  house 
may  take  a  notion  against  a  dog,  but  they 
will  never  know  it  when  she  is  once  in  my 
room,  she  is  such  a  quiet  little  thing."  So 
I  curled  all  out  of  sight  under  her  cloak  till 
she  got  into  her  parlors.  Then  she  put  me 
down,  and  I  was  so  pleased  to  see  the  rugs 

167 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  pictures  and  big,  soft  arm-chairs,  I 
knew  had  come  from  my  old  city  home,  I 
waggled  and  skipped  about,  all  over  every- 
thing. 1  felt  so  big  and  proud,  I  said: 

''  What  is  the  use  of  hiding  under  mam- 
ma's cloak,  or  anywhere  else?  I'll  go  right 
out  now  and  tell  that  big  man  who  runs  that 
funny  riding-box  that  I'm  not  one  bit  afraid 
of  him." 

So  I  wiggled  out  through  the  door,  past 
the  bags  the  hackman  was  passing  in,  and 
rushed  right  up  to  the  cage,  just  as  a  lady 
and  a  little  boy  were  flying  up  in  the  box. 
I  spatted  my  feet  on  the  hard  oak  floor  and 
sung  out  in  my  high  singing  key,  with  my 
tail  wagging  to  give  emphasis,  same  as  I 
did  to  the  "monkey-man,"  as  I  called  him, 
when  he  came  to  the  Island. 

I  always  knew  the  music  of  the  "monkey- 
man,"  no  matter  how  distant  the  sound.  I 
was  wild  with  excitement,  and  rushed  to  see 
the  funny  little  hairy  man,  with  his  bright- 
colored  coat  and  cap,  who  danced  on  the  box 
of  music,  or  climbed  his  master's  shoulder 
and  caught  the  pennies  we  threw. 

Now  when  mamma  heard  my  little  voice 
in  the  hall,  she  came  out  quickly  and  caught 
168 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

me  up  in  her  arms.  I  knew  I  had  been 
naughty  and  stopped  singing  right  away, 
but  mamma  had  caught  sight  of  another 
little  grizzly  dog,  with  a  mop  of  hair  over  his 
eyes,  like  little  Frowzelly,  so  she  knew  I  was 
not  the  only  one  in  the  house. 

Finally  she  was  much  puzzled  to  see  the 
same  little  boy  riding  up  and  down  from 
day  to  day,  and  week  to  week,  with  many 
different  dogs,  from  tiny  terriers  and  poodles 
to  great  noble  Newfoundlands  and  St.  Ber- 
nards. But  upon  inquiry  she  was  delighted 
to  find  that  the  dear  little  fellow  belonged  to 
what  he  called  "The  Band  of  Mercy." 

And  he  was  pledged  to  be  kind  to  all 
helpless  creatures.  He  was  not  contented 
with  that  alone,  but  went  out  in  the  great 
city,  and  wherever  he  found  a  poor  lost  dog, 
large  or  small,  he  brought  it  home  with  him, 
and  fed  it  and  cared  for  it,  then  took  it  to 
a  home  which  noble  hearts  had  founded, 
where  these  lost  pets  could  be  sheltered  till 
they  could  be  recovered  by  those  who  anx- 
iously sought  them,  or  find  other  kind  hearts 
to  take  them  in. 

Mamma  used  to  say,  "What  a  dear  little 
boy,  and  what  a  noble  work  he  is  doing! 

169 


He  is  sure  to  grow  up  a  great  and  good  man, 
he  thinks  so  much  more  of  saving  these  poor 
little  dogs  than  he  does  of  his  play.  The 
world  will  know  and  bless  his  name  some 
day,  for  his  heart  will  grow  big  with  pity  for 
all  God's  creation." 

Papa  got  the  cutest  thing  that  winter,  - 
a  "magic  lantern"  he  called  it, --that 
would  make  little  pictures  into  great  big 
real  ones,  all  over  the  big  sheet  mamma 
would  hang  up  across  the  whole  end  of  the 
parlor.  And  stormy  winter  evenings  they 
would  stay  home  with  me,  and  invite  the 
little  life-saver  boy  and  his  kind  mamma, 
and  other  friends  from  other  parts  of  the  big 
house.  And  the  little  boy  and  I  just  held 
our  breath,  as  I  sat  in  the  chair  beside  him 
and  one  of  his  little  foundlings,  to  see  the 
beautiful  great  pictures  papa  made. 

I  thought  they  were  truly  real,  and  when 
it  was  all  dark  in  the  great  parlor,  and  out 
of  the  black  darkness  we  could  see  the  lovely 
big  Scotch  collie  dog  crying  all  alone  beside 
his  dear  master  who  never  could  wake  any 
more  to  pat  his  silky  head,  or  give  him  a 
kind  word,  or  buckle  on  his  owrn  sword,  or 
don  his  fallen  plume,  —  for  he  couldn't  feel 
170 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

the  touch  of  that  gentle  paw  above  his 
breast,  —  I  felt  so  sorry  I  cried  out  too, 
partly  because  all  the  rest  were  so  sad  and 
still.  I  could  feel  their  tears  in  the  dark, 
and  the  little  life-saver  boy  was  sobbing 
softly  too,  so  mamma  had  to  soothe  us. 
She  called  the  poor  dear  doggie  "Land- 
seer's  Only  Mourner,"  but  all  the  little  dogs 
in  the  world  ought  to  weep  for  such  a  friend 
to  their  kind,  who  can  never  wake  any  more. 
Then  the  taper  burned  away  out,  and  the 
collie  was  crying  in  the  black  dark,  and  his 
master's  sleep  grew  deeper  and  deeper. 

Then,  all  at  once,  a  red  light  blazed  out 
of  a  blacksmith's  forge,  and  a  big  dappled- 
red  horse,  who  looked  just  like  dear  old 
Nellie,  stood  under  the  black  cobwebbed 
roof,  by  the  anvil,  with  her  head  turned 
around  towards  us,  and  the  great  burly  man 
with  his  leather  apron,  who  had  grabbed  up 
her  slender  hind  foot,  was  just  going  to  rap 
it  with  a  hammer.  She  was  saying: 

"Handle  me  with  care,  old  fellow,  or 
you'll  worry  this  dear  dog  friend  of  mine, 
and  you  might  come  to  grief."  And  she 
lay  back  her  delicate  ears,  in  gentle 
warning. 

171 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

And  there  he  was,  sure  enough !  —  one  of 
the  most  worried,  anxious-looking  doggies, 
sitting  dangerously  close  behind  the  smith, 
and  anxiously  watching  "The  Shoeing  of 
the  Bay  Mare."  He  never  winked,  he 
watched  his  every  move  so  closely  for  fear 
he  would  drive  a  nail  too  deep,  or  burn  her 
faithful  foot  with  a  red-hot  shoe;  but  I 
bow-wowed  right  out  loud  at  him,  for  I 
thought  it  was  old  Nellie,  and  mamma  had 
to  hush  me. 

Then  grand  old  castle  walls  and  stone 
towers  and  creeping  ivy  came  out  through 
the  dusky  beams  and  the  red  light  of  the 
forge,  and  the  saddest  steed  we  ever  saw 
stood  in  the  castle  yard.  He  hung  his  head 
so  low  and  crouched  as  if  to  pray  the  earth 
to  open  and  take  him  in.  He  couldn't 
speak  in  words,  but  he  told  us  just  the  same: 

"My  heart  is  breaking  for  him  and  for 
her,  for  I  come  back  riderless."  Then  we 
looked  up  and  saw  that  another  heart  was 
breaking  too,  for  a  lovely  lady  on  the  bal- 
cony above,  waiting  to  meet  somebody  she 
loved,  was  reeling  backward,  fainting,  at 
sight  of  the  "Empty  Saddle." 

Then  the  poor  mourning  steed's  head 
172 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

sank  lower  and  lower  —  he  melted  away; 
the  blanching  face  of  the  lovely  lady  faded 
into  a  desolate  plain  of  trampled  snow,  dap- 
pled with  strangest  blood-spots,  and  men 
lay  there  sleeping,  cold  and  white  and  still. 
Could  they  have  put  each  other  to  sleep  ? 

Nobody  was  awake,  only  one  poor  lonely 
charger,  whose  fallen  master  still  clasped 
the  rein  in  his  white  fingers.  The  chill  win- 
ter winds  tossed  the  steed's  snow-white 
mane  over  his  drooping  head  that  hung  so 
sorrowfully  near  the  hand  he  loved.  He 
might  have  torn  his  rein  from  the  light  clasp 
and  flown  to  warmth  and  safety,  but  no! 
he  would  stand  on,  in  the  falling  night  and 
gathering  snow,  faithful  to  that  fallen  mas- 
ter's lightest  touch,  till  he  too  sank  to  sleep, 
starving,  freezing,  -  "Forgotten." 

Oh,  how  our  hearts  ached  for  him,  and 
mamma  said  he  was  only  one  of  thousands 
of  faithful  horses,  suffering  the  wars  and 
woes  of  men,  with  never  a  voice  to  plead 
for  them  —  only  when  some  master-hand, 
like  Landseer,  Bonheur,  Waller,  Noble,  and 
others  like  them,  revealed  in  scenes  like 
these  their  more  than  human  devotion. 

And  mamma  went  on  to  say,  while  the 

173 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

trampled  snow-field,  with  its  pale-faced 
sleepers  and  white,  waiting  steed,  with 
wind-blown  mane,  faded  like  mist  from  our 
sight : 

'These  great  painters  have  drawn  the 
spirit  of  their  pictures  from  the  noble,  loving 
nature  of  the  animals  they  delineate  and 
their  own  insight  into  them,  and  our  homage 
to  their  work  is  in  due  proportion  to  our 
own  insight  into  and  acquaintance  with  these 
faithful  lives  God  has  placed  in  our  keeping, 
to  aid  and  comfort  us.  Neither  are  they 
ours  alone  —  they  belong  to  Him,  and  He 
will  require  them  at  our  hands,  the  same  as 
our  fellow  man's." 

I  had  never  seen  any  of  these  kind  men 
mamma  was  talking  about;  they  had  never 
been  down  to  our  island;  but  now  I  had 
seen  some  of  their  noble  horses  and  dogs, 
who  could  talk  and  cry  just  like  people,  I 
put  all  she  told  us  about  them  into  my  little 
story. 


174 


CHAPTER  XII 


"WHEN  thoughts  recall  the  past, 

His  eyes  are  on  me  cast, 

I  know  that  he  feels,  what  my  breaking  heart 
would  say; 

Although  he  cannot  speak 
I'll  vainly,  vainly  seek 
A  better  friend  than  old  dog  Tray." 

STEPHEN  COLLINS  FOSTER. 


THE  very  next  day  our  dear  doctor 
and  aunt  Mary  came  from  Cedar- 
crest  to  visit  us  in  the  city,  and  I 
was  so  happy  when  all  four  sat  down  in  the 
warm,  sunny  bay  with  me.  They  told  how 
their  old  dog,  Sportum,  had  staid  home  to 
take  care  of  the  "house,"  as  they  told  him, 
and  Dannie,  the  man,  would  come  every  day 
to  feed  him  and  Kitty,  the  horse.  I  learned 
to  know  and  love  old  Sportum  very  dearly 
afterwards. 

The  next  morning  we  found  everything 
white  with  the  falling  snow,  and  we  all  had 
to  stay  in.  Mamma  remarked  that  I  had 

175 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

outgrown  my  little  blue-and-gray  blanket, 
and  aunt  Mary  said  at  once: 

"Oh,  how  I  wish  you  had  the  stuff  for  a 
new  one,  now  we  are  snow-bound;  what  a 
nice  chance  it  would  be  for  me  to  make  it. " 

"I  shall  take  you  at  your  word,  aunt 
Mary,"  said  mamma,  "for  I  have  got  the 
loveliest  things  to  make  it,  which  I  bought 
at  Christmas  --  only  she  is  such  a  little 
witch  to  fit  anything  to,  I  am  afraid  you  will 
find  it  a  big  undertaking." 

"  Oh  no,  it  will  be  lots  of  fun,"  said  aunt 
Mary,  as  she  brought  out  a  small  cutting- 
table  from  a  corner  and  set  it  up  in  the 
center  of  the  floor.  "Aunt  Mary"  was  the 
pet  name  she  called  herself  to  me,  and  my 
little  heart  was  soon  captivated  with  her 
laughing  brown  eyes  and  cheery  way.  She 
never  put  me  off  her  lap,  even  when  she  was 
handling  silk  floss  or  fine  embroidery  or 
lace,  and  now  when  she  called,  "  Come  here, 
little  Fairy,  and  let  aunt  Mary  make  you  a 
lovely  new  blanket,"  I  jumped  gaily  on  the 
cutting-table  and  stood  up  before  her,  wag- 
ging my  tail,  and  turning  back  my  slender 
head  and  neck  to  kiss  her,  and  twisting  my 
little  body  into  a  dozen  shapes,  as  she  started 
176 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

to  fit  me  to  some  light  lining  cotton,  just  to 
get  a  good  pattern.  She  tried  on  my  old 
blanket  to  see  where  it  was  too  short  and  too 
tight,  and  where  I  needed  extra  thickness  to 
protect  my  delicate  breast  from  the  winter's 
cold. 

I  understood  the  whole  thing  just  as  well 
as  any  little  child  could  have  done,  and  I 
tried  to  stand  still,  only  I  felt  so  grateful  to 
my  sweet  cloak-maker  I  had  to  bob  around 
to  kiss  her  every  moment,  and  my  little  eel- 
like  figure  was  in  a  score  of  shapes.  But 
finally  mamma  declared  that  aunt  Mary  had 
a  splendid  fit,  and  the  lovely  new  materials 

-  a  seal-brown  corduroy,  with  an  old-gold 
satin  lining,  some  fluffy  brown  fur  to  trim  it 
around  the  neck,  and  some  cunning  gilt 
buttons  to  close  and  trim  it  double-breasted 

-were  all  laid  out  on  the  table.  I  kissed 
everything  as  aunt  Mary  held  it  up  to  ad- 
mire, and  when  they  put  me  down  on  the 
carpet,  while  they  spread  the  new  pattern 
on  the  velvet,  I  stood  up  and  watched,  with 
my  little  fore  paws  on  the  edge  of  the  cutting- 
table,  I  was  so  pleased  and  excited. 

I  stuck  tight  to  aunt  Mary  every  minute, 
nestling  in  her  lap  all  the  time  she  was  bind- 

177 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

ing  the  pretty  blanket  and  making  the  cun- 
ning buttonholes  for  the  little  gilt  buttons. 
Whenever  she  put  it  out  of  her  hands  to  go 
to  lunch  or  dinner,  she  found  me  lying  on  it, 
needle  and  all,  on  her  return,  I  was  so  afraid 
something  would  run  away  with  it. 

When  it  was  nearly  finished,  and  she  tried 
it  on  to  see  just  where  to  set  the  buttons,  I 
fairly  swaggered  about  the  room,  holding 
my  pretty  head  high  above  the  fluffy  fur 
collar,  bridling  it  from  side  to  side,  and 
prancing  and  curveting,  same  as  I  had  seen 
Don  and  Dora  do  when  papa  said  they  felt 
fine  as  a  fiddle.  It  was  a  long  time  before  I 
could  steady  down  enough  to  let  aunt  Mary 
take  it  off,  to  set  the  finishing  stitches,  and 
they  had  a  good  laugh  at  my  proud  little 
antics. 

The  doctor  called  me  over  to  the  bay 
window  and  showed  me  a  big,  blue-coated 
man,  with  shiny  buttons,  walking  slowly 
past,  and  said: 

"Does  Fairy  see  that  g-r-e-a-t  —  b-i-g 
policeman?  He'll  go  for  those  bad  boys 
that  s-t-e-a-1  little  dogs!" 

I  swelled  up  my  little  throat  and  barked 
a  big  "Bow-wow-wow!"  that  I  thought 
178 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

sounded  like  an  awfully  big  dog,  and  spatted 
on  the  window  glass  at  him,  and  leaped 
about  on  my  little  hind  feet,  to  show  how  I 
would  like  to  take  a  hand  in  some  great 
melee  between  little  dogs  and  bad  men  and 
boys.  I  had  caught  at  part  of  the  idea,  but 
was  mixed  as  to  the  exact  part  of  the 
"policeman,"  as  appeared,  greatly  to 
the  doctor's  amusement, 

a  half-hour  ^^  later. 

When  the    jfl     ,VF^  new  blan- 

ket was  lfl|  completed 

I  was  du-  ly  arrayed 

in   it,    and  started  out 

with    the  doctor  and 

papa    for    a  little  walk. 

'The  storm  had  cleared   away, 

and  the  sun  shone  out  over  the  banks  of 
snow  shoveled  from  the  sidewalks.  I  felt 
so  proud  and  self-conscious  in  my  new  coat, 
and  big  blue  satin  bow,  and  blue  velvet  collar, 
all  set  around  with  sparkling  blue  stones,  and 
tinkling  bells  in  the  shape  of  golden  acorns, 
that  my  feet  could  scarcely  touch  the  side- 
walk. Everybody  looked  and  laughed  at  me ; 
I  grew  happier  and  prouder  every  minute,  and 
longed  to  do  some  brave  and  glorious  deed. 

179 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

That  very  moment  I  caught  sight  of  sev- 
eral big,  blue-coated  men,  with  brass  but- 
tons, one  of  the  head  ones  the  very  man  the 
doctor  had  shown  me,  coming  up  the  street, 
tramp  —  tramp  —  tramp,  —  all  stepping  to- 
gether. Quick  as  a  flash  I  charged  down 
upon  them,  as  though  to  arrest  their  prog- 
ress. I  fairly  screamed  at  them,  and  nipped 
at  their  heavy-booted  feet,  only  retreating 
step  by  step  to  escape  their  onward  march. 
The  big  men  didn't  look  scared,  as  I  thought 
they  would;  instead  of  that  they  only 
laughed,  and  the  head  man  said: 

"Ho!  ho!  you  little  midget,  don't  eat  us 
up.  What  sort  of  a  fur-bearing  animal  are 
you  ?  "  The  whole  crowd  were  much  amused 
at  my  bold  escapade  and  my  funny  look  in 
my  new  blanket,  set  off  by  my  bravado  airs. 
Papa  called  me  back,  and  the  doctor  saw 
that  I  had  got  a  little  mixed  between  his  talk 
to  me  of  "policemen,"  "bad  boys,"  and 
"little  dogs,"  when  I  attacked  these  stalwart 
guardians  of  law  and  order. 

I  was  not  willing  to  have  my  little  blanket 

taken  off  when  I  got  home,  but  they  said  I 

would  be  too  warm;  so  mamma  hung  it  up  on 

a  high  peg  on  the  closet  door,  where  I  went 

180 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

and  looked  at  it  many  times,  to  see  if  it  was 
all  safe.  Always,  when  papa  took  his  hat 
and  cane,  as  though  he  were  going  out,  I 
rushed  and  tried  to  reach  it. 

One  bright  spring  morning  the  traveling- 
bags  were  brought  in,  and  I  knew  in  a  mo- 
ment that  we  were  going  to  our  lovely  island ; 
for  I  sniffed  inside  of  them  and  I  could  tell 
they  had  been  there  six  months  before  - 
my  long,  slim  nose  was  very  keen.  Mamma 
was  hurrying  about  and  could  not  notice  me 
much,  till  she  heard  the  jingle  of  my  little 
bells,  and  saw  me  climbing  to  her  dressing- 
bureau,  trying  to  reach  my  little  collar  with- 
out tipping  over  anything  else,  for  I  never 
broke  anything.  She  took  it  down  for  me, 
and  I  stuck  my  little  head  through  quickly, 
so  as  to  help  her.  I  pawed  my  dear  blanket 
down  from  the  hook,  but  I  knew  I  could  not 
get  it  on  alone,  so  I  lay  down  upon  it  for  a 
while,  hoping  she  would  notice  me. 

Then  I  began  to  shiver  and  tremble  for 
fear  they  were  going  away  without  me,  so  I 
ran  and  climbed  into  the  traveling-bag. 
Mamma  came  soon  to  pack  it,  and  she  said 
to  papa: 

"Just  see  this  dear  little  thing!     She  is  so 

181 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

afraid  she  slia'nt  go;"  and  she  showed  him 
how  still  I  lay,  to  let  her  shut  me  in  the  dark 
bag.  Then  she  took  me  out,  and  I  tried  to 
lift  up  the  corner  of  the  lunch-basket,  to 
climb  in  there,  so  as  to  be  sure  to  be  aboard 
somewhere. 

Papa  said,  "  Give  me  poor  little  Fairy's 
blanket;  I  will  put  it  on  her,  then  she  will 
know  she  is  going,  and  rest  easy." 

He  said  his  fingers  were  all  thumbs,  and  I 
kissed  him  so  wildly,  and  waggled  my  little 
body  so  fast,  he  had  hard  work  to  find  the 
pretty  buttons,  but  finally  we  were  all  ready, 
and  were  soon  aboard  the  rushing  train, 
flying  away  down  to  the  sea-side. 

I  lay  good  and  still  on  the  seat  beside 
papa,  or  sat  up  to  see  the  trees  and  farm- 
houses flying  past,  or  turned  around  to  look 
back  at  the  people  in  the  car.  The  tired 
little  babies  in  their  mothers'  arms  would 
stop  fretting  and  reach  their  little  hands  out 
to  me  — - 1  never  met  a  little  child  who  did 
not  love  me  and  reach  out  to  pat  my  silky 
head  with  its  chubby  hands. 

As  the  train  got  nearer  and  nearer  the 
station  for  our  dear  island  I  would  fly  up, 
every  time  the  train-man  called  out,  and  lap 
182 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

papa  on  the  ear,  and  then  peer  anxiously  out 
of  the  car-window,  for  I  was  so  afraid  he 
would  forget  to  get  out  at  the  right  place. 
But  in  a  few  moments  we  got  there;  papa 


took  the  lunch-baskets,  I  sprang  into  mam- 
ma's arms,  and  we  alighted. 

Mamma  said,  "  Let  us  start  right  out  and 
walk,  this  lovely  morning,  and  let  the  car- 
riage come  later  with  our  bags  and  baskets. 

183 


Little  Fairy  will  enjoy  it  so  after  being  shut 
in  all  winter,"  and  so  we  started  out. 

My  little  heart  fairly  bounded  for  joy. 
I  raced  hither  and  thither  across  the  road- 
way, before  the  swift  barn-swallows  that 
skimmed  so  near  my  head.  I  could  feel  the 
fanning  of  their  blue-black  wings  in  their 
saucy  flight  around  and  around  me;  and  the 
little  bluebirds  swung  on  the  tip-top  of  the 
graceful  cedars,  singing  their  sweetest,  glad- 
dest songs. 

Soon  a  turn  in  the  road,  as  we  emerged 
from  the  woods,  brought  us  in  full  sight  of 
our  dear  Island  Haven,  with  its  stone  towers 
and  chimneys  rising  above  the  trees  on  the 
high  western  point  of  the  island,  and  below 
it,  against  the  green  wooded  bluff,  the  pretty 
Oriental  pavilion,  on  the  water's  edge,  with 
its  fleet  of  boats  at  anchor. 

I  dashed  across  the  bridge,  under  which 
the  rising  tide  was  flowing  fast,  and  up  the 
high  hill  ahead  of  them.  Then  I  waited,  for 
papa  and  mamma  always  stopped  a  mo- 
ment, in  the  spring  coming,  to  look  over  the 
broad,  blue  bay,  with  its  green  islands,  and 
before  us,  near  at  hand,  at  the  home  we 
loved  so  well.  Mamma  said,  "How  sweet 
184 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  restful  it  all  is,  after  the  roar  and  rattle 
and  stifling  air  of  the  city.  Little  Fairy  is 
as  glad  as  we  are." 

Then  we  started  down  the  slight  decline, 
through  the  tall  cedars  and  budding  su- 
machs, toward  the  house.  Just  at  that  mo- 
ment the  flapping  of  wings  sounded  through 
the  cedars.  I  heard  it  first,  and  stood  still, 
with  my  little  ears  pricked  high  and  one 
foot  uplifted. 

Papa  and  mamma  looked  quickly  to  the 
right,  and,  through  the  feathery  green, 
caught  sight  of  what  I  was  staring  at  with 
unblinking  eyes. 

A  great,  glossy  bird,  standing  there  erect, 
with  long  beak,  broad  white  breast,  wings 
dappled  with  brown  and  black,  and  a  dark 
golden-green  head  and  neck,  which  glistened 
in  the  checkered  sunlight. 

"Hist!"  whispered  mamma,  stopping 
short.  "There's  a  splendid  wild  goose. 
Don't  scare  him  —  let  us  get  a  good  look  at 
him." 

He  eyed  us  with  great,  fiery  eyes,  and,  far 
from  being  scared  himself,  he  made  up  his 
mind  to  give  us  a  scare.  What  right  had 
these  people,  with  that  queer-looking  little 

185 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

four-footed  creature,  to  come  on  his  island, 
where  he  had  roosted  about  all  winter,  and 
strutted  around  and  around  on  the  veran- 
da, "monarch  of  all  he  surveyed,"  like 
Robinson  Crusoe. 

So  up  he  flew  with  a  great  rushing  of  his 
wide,  strong  wings,  and  a  harsh,  "Conk- 
conk-conk!"  through  his  yellow  beak  — 
and  down  he  swooped,  right  in  our  faces. 

Papa  whacked  him  with  his  umbrella,  the 
only  thing  he  had,  and  it  sounded  as  though 
he  was  beating  a  feather-bed.  As  he  landed 
in  the  driveway  he  started  for  me  with  his 
sharp  beak  wide  open,  his  red  tongue  hissing 
and  darting  out  at  me. 

I  thought  it,  as  people  say, 

"Better  far  to  run  away, 
And  live  to  fight  another  day," 

than  to  give  battle  to  so  strange  an  enemy, 
so  I  started  down  the  hill,  fast  as  my  fleet 
little  feet  would  carry  me,  the  huge  bird, 
with  flapping  wings,  half  flying,  half  running 
and  with  outstretched  beak,  in  close  pursuit. 
Dear  mamma,  regardless  of  her  own  dan- 
ger, plucked  handfuls  of  feathers  from  his 
broad  back  in  her  efforts  to  restrain  him; 
and  she  gave  a  sharp  cry  of  fear  as  he  caught 
186 


V  V 


"  /  started  down  the  hill,  fast  as  my  fleet  little  feet 
would  carry  me." 


YOURS   WITH   ALL  MY  HEART 

the  back  edge  of  my  little  blanket,  which 
really  saved  my  tender  flesh. 

At  that  instant  papa  got  ahead  and  gave 
him  such  a  solid  whack  with  the  umbrella 
that  he  turned  his  attention  to  him,  while 
mamma  knelt  down  in  the  driveway  and 
bowed  over  me,  so  the  fierce  bird  could  not 
possibly  reach  me  again,  and  shielded  her 
face  with  her  arms.  She  feared  he  would 
pluck  at  my  beautiful  eyes;  yet  she  did  not 
realize  till  afterward  the  great  danger  we 
were  all  in,  for  a  wild  goose  will  break  a 
man's  arm  with  one  blow  from  his  powerful 
wing,  so  a  hunter  afterward  told  us;  but 
papa  gave  him  such  stout  battle  that  he  flew 
off,  conking  angrily,  into  the  bay,  and  we 
reached  the  house  in  safety. 

A  few  moments  later,  when  mamma  went 
to  set  a  can  of  cream  on  the  north  piazza, 
there  was  Mr.  Goose  again,  standing  on 
the  door-step  and  hissing  at  her.  She  re- 
treated, pell-mell,  into  the  house.  Papa 
grabbed  a  new  broom  out  of  the  kitchen  and 
went  out,  and  had  a  regular  go-round  with 
the  old  fellow,  ruffling  up  his  feathers  with 
a  good  pummeling,  before  he  took  wing  and 
sailed  off  into  the  bay  again. 

189 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"I'll  teach  that  goose  that  I've  some 
rights  around  here  yet!"  he  said  to  mamma, 
breathing  hard  after  his  sharp  tussle.  "I 
could  put  an  end  to  his  career  mighty  quick, 
but  I  don't  wish  to  hurt  him  --  any  more 
than  to  teach  him  to  let  us  alone." 

"What  a  strange  thing!"  said  mamma. 
"I  can  see  where  he  has  been  marching 
around  the  house  and  island  all  winter. 
He  just  thinks  it  belongs  to  him  and  we 
have  no  right  to  be  here." 

"I  think  he  is  a  wild  goose  the  Jacobs 
boys,  across  the  bay,  tried  to  tame  for  what 
they  call  a  '  'coy  goose '  to  call  the  others,  and 
I  don't  wish  to  hurt  him  if  I  can  help  it," 
said  papa. 

"No,  he  is  a  handsome  fellow,  and 
I'd  like  to  see  him  around  if  he  would 
only  be  a  little  more  civil,"  said 
mamma. 

But  I  kept  saying,  "Boo!  boo!  boo!" 
short  and  sharp  --  I  thought  he  was  an 
awfully  bad  goose. 

Papa  started  out  again,  picking  up  a  fence- 
rail  as  he  went,  to  be  ready  for  Mr.  Goose, 
should  he  return  to  give  battle,  and  walked 
up  the  steep  grassy  hillside  overlooking  the 
190 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

bay.  We  ran  to  the  southeast  window  to 
see  what  would  happen. 

Sure  enough,  with  great  flapping  of  wings 
and  loud,  threatening  cries,  up  sailed  the  old 
fellow,  circling  above  the  hill-top,  and  mak- 
ing a  fierce  swoop  for  papa,  but  he  gave  him 
a  settler  with  the  fence-rail  that  sent  him 
spinning  over  the  bluff.  Only  poor  papa 
lost  his  balance  too,  striking  out  so  heavily 
with  his  unwieldly  weapon,  and,  pitching 
headlong,  slid  on  his  plump  stomach  half- 
way down  the  hill,  over  the  dry,  slippery 
grass.  He  scrambled  to  his  feet  pretty 
lively,  for  the  old  goose  was  up  and  on  him 
again.  He  saw,  too,  that  he  had  broken 
his  watch-chain  and  torn  off  his  handsome 
topaz  charm,  an  old  heirloom  he  cherished, 
in  his  fall.  He  told  mamma  afterwards: 

"I  was  beginning  to  get  my  dander  up,  I 
can  tell  you,  and  I  didn't  feel  quite  so  careful 
of  that  old  goose  when  I  saw  him  making  a 
dive  to  swallow  my  big  topaz.  I  had  got 
kind  o'  riled,  sliding  down  hill  on  my  stom- 
ach, with  him  flapping  and  conking  behind 
me." 

He  got  on  his  feet  just  in  time  to  save  him- 
self, caught  up  the  fence-rail  and  dealt  a 

191 


second  swinging  blow  to  the  thoroughly 
maddened  goose,  which  again  retreated  to 
the  water  below. 

About  this  time  two  young'men,  wTho  had 
been  pulling  hastily  out  in  a  rowboat  from 
the  opposite  shore,  came  within  speaking 
distance,  and  called  out: 

"It's  time  we  dispatched  that  old  fellow, 
Mr.  B—  — .  We  don't  want  to  give  our  good 
neighbors  such  trouble  as  this. " 

"Oh  no!"  called  papa,  "don't  shoot  him 
on  my  account.  I  think  he  and  I  will  arrive 
at  an  understanding  after  a  wrhile." 

The  two  young  men  were  the  Jacobs  boys, 
and  this  was  their  "  'coy  goose,"  as  papa  had 
guessed  --  old  Billy  Honks,  the  neighbors 
called  him. 

'Yes,  yes.  We  are  bound  to  end  it," 
they  called  back.  "He  lamed  another  man 
all  up  last  week;  and  broke  a  dog's  leg;  and 
swooped  down  on  neighbor  Ring's  old  horse, 
which  ran  away  and  smashed  his  wagon. 
Then  he  went  over  and  raced  'Squire  Eph- 
raim's  cows  till  they  lost  every  drop  o'  milk, 
and  t'other  day  he  sailed  over  and  pulled 
half  the  feathers  out  our  old  tame  white 
goose  we  got  him  for  a  mate.  It's  high  time 
192 


we  put  an  end  to  his  goings  on,  before  he 
half  kills  somebody. " 

" Boys,  I  beg  of  you  not  to  shoot!  It  will 
distress  Mrs.  B—  -  far  more  than  anything 
the  goose  will  be  likely  to  do  to  annoy  us. " 

One  of  the  brothers  had  raised  his  gun  to 
take  aim  at  the  defiant  bird,  who  was  sailing 
along  on  the  water  and  giving  vent  to  his 
ill-temper  in  harsh,  conking  cries,  but  at 
this  plea  of  papa's  he  lowered,  the  gun  again, 
looking  abashed  and  puzzled  at  the  awk- 
ward predicament  he  was  getting  himself 
and  good  neighbors  into  by  his  attempt  to 
tame  this  wild  fowl  of  the  air,  since  they 
would  not  consent  to  his  death.  Just  then, 
as  the  boat  was  rolling  around  in  the  strong, 
swift  eddies,  an  oar  slipped  from  the  row- 
lock; the  young  man  made  a  sudden  move 
to  save  it,  but  in  so  doing  dragged  his 
weapon  across  the  gunwale — Bang!  Splash ! 
A  shower  of  shot  ploughed  up  the  water 
around  old  Billy  Honks,  glancing  dan- 
gerously near  the  bluff  where  papa  was 
standing. 

Now  Billy  Honks  knew,  well  enough, 
what  a  gun  was,  and  when  he  saw  his  best 
friends  handling  one  so  carelessly  as  to 

193 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

deafen  his  ears  and  singe  the  glossy  green 
feathers  on  his  proud  head,  although  un- 
hurt, his  righteous  wrath  knew  no  bounds. 
He  arose  majestically  above  the  water,  high 
in  air,  with  a  fierce  cry  that  sounded  far  out 
to  sea  toward  the  sunset;  then  he  descended 
toward  the  fragile  craft  as  if  himself  shot 
out  of  a  catapult,  and  before  the  astonished 
Jacobs  boys  could  realize  that  he  dared  do 
such  a  thing,  he  struck  them  a  full  fifty- 
pounder,  knocking  the  shotgun  out  of  their 
hands  with  a  whiz  into  the  briny  waves, 
while  the  little  skiff  whirled  like  a  top  with 
the  shock  of  his  savage  momentum. 

Up  rose  the  indignant  goose  again,  cir- 
cling threateningly  above  them,  while  they 
cowered  with  upraised  oars  to  ward  off  a 
second  onslaught. 

Billy  Honks  peered  down  with  fiery  eyes. 
He  knew  he  had  disarmed  his  ungrateful 
captors,  and  given  them  a  sound  buffeting. 
Suddenly,  above  him,  a  dim  V  line  dark- 
ened the  evening  sky,  and  the  startled  conk 
of  his  wild  mates,  flying  swiftly  to  north- 
ward, reached  his  keen  ear.  A  new  sense 
of  power  and  longing  filled  his  breast.  He 
had  called  helplessly,  for  two  years,  toward 
194 


the  sky,  for  these  free  rangers  to  come  down 
to  the  little  bay  where  his  clipped  wings 
held  him  captive;  but  they  were  ever  wary 
of  the  cruel  gunner.  Now  he  would  go  to 
them. 

His  bosom  heaved  with  a  vague  longing 
for  a  wider  sphere  than  the  little  seaside 
hamlet.  He  was  weary  with  belligerent  en- 
counters with  its  denizens,  biped  and  quad- 
ruped. Why  not  look  down  upon  the  world 
at  large  ?  With  that  he  called  after  the 
north-bound  flock  in  a  changed  voice,  and 
vaulted  higher  and  higher. 

"Now,  Mister,  you  can  see  the  gratitude 
o'  that  old  feller.  Our  gun  is  in  the  bottom 
o'  the  sea  —  another  one  o'  his  confounded 
capers.  Blame  take  him!  we  haven't  been 
able  to  get  nigh  him  to  clip  his  wings  this 
spring,  and  he  doesn't  mean  we  shall, 
neither. "  And  they  gazed  indignantly  after 
Billy  Honks,  clear  cut,  with  wide-spread 
pinions,  against  the  northern  glow. 

"Now,  boys,  it  isn't  so  bad  as  it  might 
have  been,  all  things  considered.  You  might 
have  hit  old  Billy  when  you  didn't  mean  to, 
or  me  either  for  that  matter,  and  if  you  can 
dive  like  ducks,  as  I've  seen  you  do  for  a 

195 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

boat-mooring  in  December,  I  guess  you  can 
bring  that  gun  up  at  low  tide  in  April.  We 
can  tell,  into  three  feet,  of  just  where  it  lies." 

"Yes,"  they  said  ruefully,  "but  'tisn't 
going  to  do  it  any  good  to  soak  there  in  salt 
water  all  night;  and  no  knowing  what  that 
infernal  goose'll  do  next." 

"Well,  boys,  I  wouldn't  worry  about  him; 
you  meant  all  right.  I  shall  have  to  say 
good-night  now,  but  I'll  be  out  in  the  gray 
of  the  morning,  when  the  tide  is  down,  to 
help  you  fish  for  the  gun." 

Old  Billy  Honks  was  still  winging  away 
to  the  northward.  He  had  left  the  familiar 
bay,  the  little  island  with  its  castle  he  had 
fondly  called  his  own  for  months,  behind 
him.  The  only  soul  to  share  it  with  him 
had  been  a  little  brown  owl  who  roosted  in 
the  stone-work  of  the  tower  above  the  en- 
trance. She  had  startled  the  newcomers 
that  very  day  by  fluttering  wildly  down, 
with  a  blind  rush,  when  they  slid  the  bolt  in 
the  door,  but  they  only  said,  "Oh,  that's  the 
dear  little  owl,  on  guard ;  strange  we  have  to 
jump  so  every  time  we  meet  her." 

Billy  Honks  philosophized  some  to  him- 
self. Mankind  had  never  shown  much  love 
196 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

for  him,  nor  had  he  for  them.  A  sense  of 
injury  at  their  hand  stirred  in  his  hot  heart. 
He  was  getting  a  little  wing-weary  for  want 
of  practice,  although  he  was  exultant  at  the 
speed  at  which  he  had  accomplished  his  first 
mile  inland. 

For  now  he  looked  down  upon  the  long, 
straight  line  of  the  railroad  track,  cutting 
through  the  pine  and  oak  woods,  and  saw 
the  twinkling  lights  of  the  little  country 
grocery  store  and  post-office  combined,  over 
against  the  station. 

The  glowing  lamp  of  the  country  grocery 
store,  with  its  tin  reflector,  was  the  spark 
that  kindled  the  fuse  to  his  belligerent  spirit. 
For  he  knew  that  many  an  old  adversary  of 
his  made  it  his  headquarters;  he  had  never 
been  able  to  fly  there  till  now,  but  he  had 
propelled  himself  by  half- winged  foot-power 
over  the  forest  road  to  its  well-worn  door- 
sill  before,  and  he  knew  the  village  denizens 
were  gathering  there  tonight. 

Inside,  the  old  standbys  were  already  in 
position.  "  I  tell  yer,  Uncle  Siah,  there  can't 
none  o'  them  ere  city  chaps  boss  us  round; 
I  reckon  our  eye-teeth's  cut  'fore  they's  born. 
That  idee  o'  turning  out  in  winter  weather 

197 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

an'  diggin'  out  the  Meetin'-house  cellar,  free 
gratis  for  nuthin',  didn't  go  down  withyou'n' 
I,  did  it?"  said  the  first  speaker  with  great 
moderation. 

"No  sir-ee!"  responded  Uncle  Siah.  "I 
'low  that  if  these  summer  folks  can  loaf 
round  and  enjoy  theirselves  all  through  the 
fine  weather,  they've  no  bizness  ter  find 
fault  agin  our  restin'  winters.  I  own  I  ain't 
in  any  great  teeter  for  real  bone  labor,  in 
season  nor  out  o'  season,  no  more'n  they 
be.  That  ere  college  perfesser  thought  he'd 
said  a  mighty  sharp  thing  when  he  hinted 
that  grocer  Locke  here  had  ought  ter  either 
upholster  the  tops  o'  his  barrels  or  provide 
us  leather  patches  for  our  breeches.  He 
ain't  in  dooty  bound  ter  do  nuther  one;  that's 
our  own  lookout.  And  as  for  me,  I'll  defy 
any  o'  these  kid-gloved  fellers  to  git  me  off 
this  ere  sugar-barrel  till  I'm  good  an'  ready. 
I'll  stick  on  it,  winter  and  summer,  too,  if  I 
choose,  till  I've  growed  here!" 

"So  say  I!"  chimed  in  Reub  Ring  as  he 
beat  a  lively  tattoo  on  his  barrel  with  his 
twisted  boot-heels  by  way  of  applause,  and 
crunched  a  fresh  peanut,  abstracted  with  a 
sort  of  back-handed  flourish  from  the  gro- 
198 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

cer's  diminishing  stock,  by  way  of  em- 
phasis. 

"Them's  my  sentiments  --  I'm  right 
with  yer,  boys,  and  I  reckon  we  can  Jiold  the 
fort  ag'in'  the  whole  posse,"  put  in  Joe  Slow, 
as  he  reached  forth  a  gaunt  hand  for  about 
the  tenth  cube  of  loaf  sugar  to  sweeten  his 
taste.  "  I  ain't  in  the  habit  o'  being  dictated 
to  by  nuther  man  nor  beast. " 

"Nor  me,  nuther,"  grunted  Uncle  Siah. 

The  little  lame  boy  on  a  box  in  the  corner 
snickered  and  shuffled  his  crutch.  He  saw 
something  —  something  that  tickled  him 
immensely,  and  he  knew,  as  he  said  to  him- 
self, there  was  going  to  be  a  circus. 

"Stop  yer  snickerin',  yer  little  tyke,  yer, 
when  yer  elders  is  talkin'!"  roared  Uncle 
Siah. 

"  I  ain't  laughing  at  you,"  gulped  the  boy, 
stuffing  both  fists  into  his  mouth  and  rolling 
his  eyes  to  the  back  of  the  store  to  distract 
their  attention. 

Their  eyes  followed  his,  but  saw  no  cause 
for  merriment.  Only  grocer  Locke  sat 
there  sedately  scratching  away  on  his  ac- 
counts. A  second  shuffle  of  the  boy's 
crutch,  and  a  yell  of  pain  and  anger  from 

199 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Uncle  Siah,  turned  all  faces  with  a  jerk 
toward  the  broad  open  door.  Through  it  a 
baleful,  wrathful  figure  had  been  advancing, 
fiery-eyed,  with  trailing  wings  and  velvet 
footfalls  —  unseen,  unfelt,  till  a  horny  beak 
shot  forth  like  the  flash  of  a  saw-edged 
poniard  into  Uncle  Siah's  posterior,  as  he 
sat  hump-backed  upon  his  wooden  Gib- 
raltar. 

One  wild  vision  of  Billy  Honks  waving 
his  first  victorious  colors,  in  the  shape  of  an 
inch-wide  strip  of  Uncle  Siah's  blue  denim 
overalls,  and  all  was  rout  and  confusion. 
Whirling  around  on  his  wooden  throne,  Un- 
cle Siah  kicked  vengefully  at  his  assailant. 
This  was  just  the  challenge  Billy  wanted. 
Up  he  mounted  to  the  low-browed  ceiling, 
like  a  spirit  of  evil,  fanning  out  the  lamp 
into  utter  darkness  with  his  black  wings,  as 
he  went  crashing  through  the  glass  jars  of 
chemicals  on  top  of  the  grand  new  soda 
fountain. 

But  the  darkness  could  not  cover  Uncle 
Siah  nor  his  compeers  from  his  eagle  eyes. 
Three  rushing  thud  —  thud  —  thuds,  three 
toppling  barrels,  the  crash  of  a  two-gallon 
jug  full  of  New  Orleans  molasses  against  the 
200 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

corner  of  the  iron  scales,  the  rattle  of  a 
bushel  of  white  shell-beans,  overturned  in 
the  grand  scrimmage,  the  flap  and  flutter  of 
wings,  the  shrill  invectives  of  the  bird  and 
his  downf  alien  victims,  brought  grocer  Locke 
stumbling  over  a  struggling  heap  in  a  slip- 
pery pool  of  treacle. 

He  struck  a  match,  lighted  a  candle  and 
peered  fearfully  about  in  the  gloom,  but 
Billy  Honks  was  gone;  so  was  the  boy  with 
the  crutch. 

"We  all  said  we  weren't  afeered  o'  man 
nor  beast,"  muttered  Uncle  Siah  in  crest- 
fallen accents,  as  he  sat  up  on  the  edge  of 
the  scales  and  wrung  a  stream  of  molasses 
from  his  chin  whiskers,  which  were  all 
abloom  with  the  white  beans,  "  but  we  didn't 
reckon  on  that  ere  dumbed  fowl!" 

"That  little  miscreant  was  at  the  bottom 
on't,"  muttered  Reub  Ring,  "with  shuff- 
ling his  crutch  to  aig  him  on  to  us.  That 
little  beggar  was  the  only  crittur  in  the  coun- 
try that  pet  bird  o'  Satan  ever  made  friends 
with." 

A  snicker  from  around  the  corner,  a  honk 
high  up  in  the  evening  sky,  were  the  only 
response. 

203 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Billy  knew  that  he  should  overtake  his 
wild  mates  beyond  the  mighty  stretch  of 
pines  on  the  other  side  of  the  Cape,  and  he 
shook  off  the  dust  of  his  feet  forever  against 
the  scene  of  his  captivity,  and  wringed  on  for 
the  paradise  of  freedom. 

Great  was  the  merriment  of  the  natives 
when  the  parting  scene  between  Billy  Honks 
and  the  old  standbys  at  the  grocery  was 
heralded  through  the  little  hamlet  the  next 
morning,  and  I  have  given  it  to  you  word 
for  word,  just  as  papa  heard  it  and  came 
and  told  us. 

We  need  not  be  afraid,  now,  to  go  out  and 
search  for  the  sweet  mayflowers  on  the  isl- 
and, for  that  was  what  mamma  had  come 
for.  She  wished  to  pick  a  lot,  to  send  to  the 
poor  sick  people  in  the  hospitals  for  their 
Easter  Sunday. 

So  we  hurried  out,  and  hiding  in  the  dry 
grass  and  under  the  pine  needles  were  the 
sweet,  pinky  blossoms,  just  like  pretty  sea- 
shells.  I  would  root  my  little  nose  down  to 
see  what  mamma  was  finding.  I  would 
smell  the  sweet  perfume,  and  nib  playfully 
at  the  flowers  and  kiss  her  face  as  she  knelt 
to  pick  them. 
204 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

The  next  day,  which  was  Saturday,  aunt 
Mary  invited  us  to  come  over  and  pick  on 
the  "Ridge,"  the  high  hill  of  Cedar-crest, 
where  the  lovely  flowers  grew  pink  and 
sweet  as  they  could  be,  in  sunny,  sheltered 
spots  among  the  whispering  pines.  She 
helped  us,  and  mamma  made  up  a  great 
many  beautiful  bouquets.  We  started  back 
to  the  city  that  night,  aunt  Mary  with  us, 
with  three  great  market-baskets  full  of  may- 
flowers,  and  when  we  reached  the  city  mam- 
ma and  I  went  right  away,  before  we  had 
tea,  and  took  the  sweet  flowers  to  a  great 
building.  Here  she  was  met  by  some  gen- 
tle-faced women  in  plain  black  garb,  with 
white  bonnets,  whom  she  called  "Sisters." 
Their  faces  beamed  with  grateful  pleasure 
when  they  saw  the  Easter  gift,  and  they  said 
they  would  divide  the  sweet  blossoms  among 
their  poor  sick  people,  shut  away  from  the 
bright  world  and  laid  on  beds  of  pain,  to 
cheer  and  comfort  them. 

Mamma  only  saved  out  enough  for  each 
one  of  us  to  have  a  buttonhole  bouquet  to 
wear  to  church  that  next  bright  Easter 
morning.  I  couldn't  go,  though  I  looked 
so  wistfully  at  mamma  and  aunt  Mary.  I 

205 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

could  hear  the  sweet  bells  calling,  and  see 
the  white  doves  flying  in  and  out  their  seats 
in  the  great  high  belfry  tower,  but  I  had  no 
wings  to  fly  so  high,  so  I  waited  sorrowfully 
at  home.  Still  I  was  comforted  by  having 
a  nosegay  of  the  pearly  pink  blossoms  tied 
in  my  broad,  blue  satin  bow  when  I  rode 
out  in  the  park,  behind  Don  and  Dora,  in 
the  afternoon. 


206 


CHAPTER  XIII 


Is  it  all  lost  in  nothingness, 

Such  gladness,  love  and  hope,  and  trust  ? 
Such  busy  thoughts,  our  own  to  guess, 

All  trampled  into  common  dust  ? " 

ELIZABETH  CHARLES. 


ONE  week  more,  and  we  all  started 
back  to  our  lovely  island  for  the 
summer.  I  rode  all  the  way  be- 
hind Don  and  Dora,  who  were  as  glad  as  I 
that  we  were  going  to  our  dearest  home,  and 
had  such  a  glorious  time.  The  roadsides 
were  a  soft  bright  green,  all  spangled  over 
with  golden  dandelions,  and  as  we  neared 
the  shore  the  ground  was  fairly  blue  with 
the  lovely  great  bird's-foot  violets  with  their 
pansy  eyes. 

How  swiftly  the  spring  and  summer  sped 
away!  I  pattered  around  with  mamma 
while  she  worked  with  the  man,  fixing  the 
flower-beds  and  vases,  and  with  papa  when 
he  uncovered  the  lovely  lily-ponds  and 
started  up  the  fountains.  When  the  home 

207 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

was  all  in  order,  and  the  roses  were  bloom- 
ing, then  he  could  find  time  to  set  his  camera 
for  pictures.  I  was  always  watching  to  run 
and  pose  before  him. 

Mamma  would  say:  "Oh,  do  make  a 
picture  of  the  lilies  this  morning  —  they  are 
open  so  wide  and  beautiful!"  Then  I 
would  run  and  sit  right  in  front  of  the  Hebe 


of  the  fountain  and  the  heart-shaped  lily- 
pond,  so  as  to  be  in  the  picture,  because  I 
had  learned,  when  I  was  a  little  puppy,  that 
it  pleased  papa  and  mamma  to  have  me  do 
it.  So  I  would  follow  him  around  the  whole 
island,  and  when  he  went  into  his  dark  room 
with  his  red  lantern  to  fix  his  plates,  I 
would  be  outside  the  door  and  hear  him 
say,  as  he  held  them  up  against  the  ruby 
light: 

"Well,  I  declare,  if  there  isn't  my  dear 
208 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

little  Fairy-Fay,  big  as  life,  and  I  never  knew 
she  was  around!" 

When  I  was  only  a  baby  dog  they  petted 
me  for  sitting  still  to  have  my  picture  taken 
on  the  stone  steps,  when  the  island  home 
was  building;  so  I  always  posed  of  my  own 
accord  after  that,  and  would 
cross  my  little  paws  and  try  to 
look  just  as  sweet  as  I  could. 

There  was  one  bright  Au- 
gust morning  that  papa  tried 


i 


to  have  Tit- Willow,  the  fawn-and-white 
kitten,  and  Dandy  Jim,  the  tame  black 
crow,  pose  with  me  beside  Venus,  the 
poor  white  lady  who  stood  on  a  boat-load 
of  flowers  in  the  lawn.  I  used  to  feel  so 
sorry  for  her  at  first,  because  she  hadn't  any 
clothes,  only  a  few  that  were  falling  off  her, 
though  she  tried  to  hold  them  on,  and  she 

209 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

looked  so  'shamed  I  would  turn  my  little 
head  away  and  not  look  at  her,  to  make  her 
feel  worse.  I  heard  mamma  say  one  day 
that  she  was  Canova's  Venus,  so  I  thought 
maybe  that  was  why  she  kept  her  beautiful 
face  turned  ever  toward  the  sea,  looking  for 
Canova  to  come  sailing  in,  'cause  he  was  her 
lover.  But  he  never  came;  and  some  way, 
after  she  stood  there  summer  after  summer, 
so  still  and  watching,  I  began  to  think  she 
wasn't  a  real  live  lady  after  all,  but  a  lovely 
image  frozen  out  of  ice  and  snow. 

Mamma  took  me  visiting  once  in  a  beau- 
tiful rose-garden,  and  she  called  to  papa, 
"  Oh,  come  and  see  this  lovely  Flora,  right  in 
a  bower  of  roses!" 

I  knew  the  words,  "  Come  and  see,"  and 
I  rushed  swift  as  a  little  fawn  to  see  the 
sight;  but  when  I  saw  another  poor  white 
lady,  with  nothing  but  wreaths  of  white 
flowers  to  wear,  I  hung  my  little  head  and 
crouched  down,  and  hid  my  face  below  the 
great  white  rock  she  was  sitting  on.  Mam- 
ma caught  me  up  and  kissed  me,  and  said 
I  was  her  little  white  angel. 

But  I  have  gotten  away  from  black  Jim 
and  Tit- Willow.  Well,  papa  would  get  us 
210 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

all  fixed  for  the  picture,  then  he  would  put 
his  head  under  the  big  black  cloth  hung  over 
his  camera,  to  look  through  at  us.  Just 
then  Tit- Willow  would  fluff  up  his  hand- 
some ringed  yellow-and-white  tail,  and 
waltz  sidewise  up  to  black  Jim,  who  would 
reach  out  and  give  him  a  tweak  on  his  pink 
nose.  Then  Tit- Willow  would  slap  at  Jim 
with  his  great  double  paws,  and,  for  fear 


they  would  get  hurt,  I  would  have  to  cry 
"  Bow-wow ! "  and  rush  between  them.  Then 
Dandy  Jim,  who  had  one  wing  clipped  so 
he  couldn't  fly  away,  would  whir  around 
and  up  over  my  head,  land  on  my  back,  and 
tweak  my  silky  ears,  and  there  was  a  grand 
mix-up,  and  a  chorus  of  "Caw-caws!" 
"Meows!"  and  "Bow-wows!" 

Papa  would  run  back  and  straighten  us 
all  out  for  the  picture  again,  till  finally  he 
had  worked  nearly  an  hour  in  the  broiling 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

sun,  and  Tit- Willow  and  Dandy  Jim  acted 
worse  and  worse,  and  I  was  beginning  to 
tremble,  because  papa  had  to  scold.  He 
had  his  head  under  the  black  cloth  till  his 
face  streamed  with  perspiration;  but  just  as 
he  thought  he  had  us  all  right  we  fell  into 
another  melee,  and  he  lost  all  patience  and 
threw  his  cap  at  us  and  sent  us  scattering. 
Then  he  turned  the  garden-hose  on  to  cool 
the  air,  but  Dandy  Jim  thought  that  was 
great  fun  and  just  spread  out  his  blue-black 
wings  and  shook  them  in  the  water-drops  - 
a  shower-bath  was  what  he  longed  for.  As 
for  Tit- Willow,  he  didn't  care  a  whit  as  he 
waltzed  away,  for  he  would  wade  out  at  low 
tide  into  the  salt  water,  and  fish  out  a  mum- 
my-chub for  his  breakfast  with  his  big  dou- 
ble paws.  I've  seen  him  do  this,  and  many 
a  time  I've  watched  him  catch  a  fish  through 
the  air-holes  in  the  ice. 

Papa  was  sorry  afterwards  that  his  pa- 
tience didn't  hold  out  till  he  got  a  better 
picture  of  us,  for  before  another  spring 
Dandy  Jim's  wings  grew  out,  and  he  flew 
away  from  the  farmer  papa  hired  to  keep 
him  and  went  with  seven  old  wild  crows, 
who  used  to  fly  over  and  around  the  island 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  sit  in  a  solemn  row  on  the  red  bridge- 
posts  and  scold  --  "Caw!  —  caw!  —  caw!" 
Mamma  said  they  were  holding  a  town- 
meeting. 

We  did  not  find  out  for  five  years  that 
Dandy  Jim  was  among  them  till,  one  day, 
we  were  riding  over  the  bridge  with  Don 
and  Dora  and  he  did  not  fly  away  with  the 
rest  of  the  crows,  but  sat  still  on  the  bridge- 
post.  Soon  as  papa  could  stop  the  horses 
he  called  back,  "Jimmy,  Jimmy,  poor  Jim- 
my!" and  the  big  black  bird  spread  out  and 
shook  his  shining  wings,  and  answered  in  the 
same  funny  half  coaxing,  half  gulping, 
cracked  voice  in  which  he  used  to  tease  for 
his  beefsteak  breakfast  when  he  was  one  of 
the  family.  He  seemed  delighted  to  hear  his 
old  name  called,  and  hopped  along  on  the 
railing  toward  us.  In  five  long  years  of 
mingling  with  his  wild  mates  he  had  not 
forgotten  his  name  nor  papa's  voice,  but  he 
had  grown  shy  and  had  not  the  courage  to 
let  papa  pick  him  up.  Mamma  said  he  was 
happier  to  go  free  and  have  the  liberty  of 
his  native  isle,  for  he  was  born  down  in  one 
of  the  tall  poplar-trees. 

That  very  winter,  too,  after  papa  tried  to 

213 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

take  the  picture,  Tit- Willow  ran  away  from 
the  home  in  the  city  where  mamma  had 
planned  for  him  to  stay  till  spring;  so  she 
put  in  the  daily  paper: 

"Lost.  A  double  -  pawed,  f  awn  -  and- 
white  kitten,  white  face  and  breast,  white 
ring  round  his  neck,  four  white  mittens, 
answering  to  name  of  Tit- Willow.  $5.00 
Reward,"  etc. 

And  little  boys  came  thronging  with  black 
cats,  and  blue  cats,  and  yellow-and-black 
tiger  cats,  or  else  came  empty-handed  and 
said,  "  I  know  where  your  kitty  is,  and  I  will 
take  the  five  dollars,  if  you  please!"  till  the 
man  who  had  charge  of  Tit- Willow  had  to 
explain  to  the  boys  that  they  couldn't  have 
the  five  dollars  till  they  came  with  the  right 
cat  in  hand,  and  no  other.  Finally  he  had 
to  take  the  notice  out  of  the  paper,  or  else 
take  off  his  door-bell. 

A  dear  old  lady  over  the  way,  who  had 
taken  care  of  Tit- Willow  the  winter  before 
for  mamma,  and  was  very  fond  of  him,  said : 

"I  know  just  where  he  is;  he  has  run 
away,  down  to  the  island,  because  he  was 
homesick,  and  if  you  ever  find  him,  there's 
where  he'll  be!"  ' 
214 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

But  everybody  laughed  and  said:  "He 
was  carried  down  there  a  month-old  kitten, 
shut  in  a  box  and  on  a  train,  and  he  was 
brought  back  in  a  wooden  cage,  under  a 
carriage-seat,  six  months  later.  It  couldn't 
be  possible  that  he  could  find  his  way  back, 
forty  miles,  over  the  road,  to  his  old  home." 

We  never  knew;  but  two  years  later,  one 
dark  October  evening,  we  were  walking  the 
horses  down  the  steep  hill  on  the  island. 
We  had  started  out  to  spend  the  evening 
with  aunt  Mary  and  the  doctor.  The  car- 
riage lamps  were  lighted  and  shone  brightly 
on  the  high  grassy  bank  to  the  right  of  the 
drive;  suddenly  papa  and  mamma  cried  out 
in  one  breath: 

"Why,  there's  Tit- Willow!" 

I  looked  with  all  my  eyes,  craning  my 
neck  out  of  the  carriage  at  sound  of  his 
name,  and  there,  crouching  on  the  grassy 
bank,  as  though  dazzled  and  bewildered 
with  the  sudden  and  brilliant  lights  of  the 
carriage,  with  their  reflectors,  which  shone 
in  his  great  yellow  eyes,  was  a  monster  fawn- 
and-white  cat  with  all  the  marks  of  the  kit- 
ten which  ran  away. 

We  saw  him,  near  to,  twice  after  that,  and 

215 


YOURS  WITH  ALL  MY  HEART 

were  surer  than  ever  that  it  was  Tit- Willow, 
only  he  had  led  a  wild,  free  life  on  the  island, 
and  grown  timid  at  sight  of  people.  He 
would  mew  and  talk  to  us  from  out  the  shel- 
ter of  the  grove  of  tall  poplars,  but  would  not 
come  nearer  the  house  than  to  peep  out 
between  the  cedars  at  the  entrance,  where 
he  would  sit  up  and  wave  those  big  double 
fore  paws  at  us. 

Mamma  had  a  big  bowl  of  milk  set  out 
under  the  trees  for  him  to  steal  up  and  drink 
every  day,  and  when  the  home  was  closed 
for  the  winter  a  little  trap-door,  leading  up 
into  the  warm  stable,  was  left  open  for  Tit- 
Willow,  who  hunted  and  fished,  and  loved 
his  liberty. 


216 


CHAPTER  XIV 


"  HE  loved  to  lie  where  his  wakeful  eye 

Could  keep  me  still  in  sight, 
Whence  a  word  or  a  sign, 
Or  a  look  of  mine, 

Brought  him  like  light." 

CAROLINE  BOWLES  SOUTHEY. 


THERE  was  a  dear  little   lady  and 
her  beautiful   daughter,  friends   of 
mamma's,  who    visited    us    at    the 
island;  and  they  loved  little  dogs,  too.     I 
found  that  out,  first  of  anybody;  and  soon  I 
used  to  venture  up  to  the  little  lady  when 
the  evening  lamps  were   lighted,   and   she 
looked  so  dainty  and  pretty,  though  dressed 
all  in  deepest  black,  soft  and  clinging. 

I  would  stand  right  before  her,  and  look 
straight  into  her  gentle  face  that  bore  such 
traces  of  sadness  when  she  was  alone.  I 
would  try  to  speak,  out  of  my  great,  brown 
eyes,  and  say  to  her: 

"I  love  you,  'cause  I  know  you  love  little 
dogs,  and  I  long  to  comfort  you;  now 

217 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

wouldn't  you  like  to  have  me  climb  on  your 
knee?" 

So  I  would  stand,  and  look  and  look,  until 
she  would  give  way  and  say: 

"  Well,  you  little  darling,  you  shall  come!" 

Then  up  I  would  spring,  and  nestle  down, 
and  try  to  lie  as  lightly  as  possible  on  her 
dainty  lap  and  listen  while  she  told  stories 
of  "Tony,"  her  own  little  dog.  One  sad 
story  of  his  faithful  love  and  remembrance 
I  must  try  to  give  you,  with  his  picture  which 
she  showed  mamma  and  me. 

This  is  the  picture  of  dear  little  Tony, 
watching  and  waiting;  he  could  never  give 
up  listening  for  the  familiar  footfalls  through 
the  sad  silence  that  had  fallen  over  her  dear 
bright  home,  so  many  weary  months  before. 
Day  after  day  he  sat  in  his  cushioned  chair 
in  the  west  window  and  peered  down  the 
street,  his  faithful  little  heart  beating  heav- 
ily with  the  dull  pain  of  hope  deferred,  be- 
cause he  had  been  cruelly  disappointed  again 
and  again. 

But  this  day  of  which  she  told  us  Tony 

was  up  on  the  arm  of  his  chair,  alert,  intent, 

with  straining  gaze  far,  far  down  the  street, 

where  nearly  a  year  before  he  had  been  wont 

218 


"  Tony  was  up  on  the  arm  of  his  chair." 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

to  wildly  welcome  the  master's  approach; 
and  suddenly  —  oh,  joyous  ending  to  his 
faithful  vigils !  —  there  came  the  familiar 
form,  the  quick,  elastic  movement  he  knew 
so  well,  even  a  whole  square  away. 

"Yes,  oh,  yes,  it  must  be  he!" 

The  little  watching,  waiting  heart  knew 
he  would  come;  now  he  was  coming,  coming 
home,  wearing  the  same  coat,  the  same  soft 
gray  hat  he  wore  when  last  Tony  greeted 
him. 

In  a  moment  poor  little  Tony  was  one 
quivering,  palpitating  morsel  of  expectant 
love,  from  head  to  foot.  He  appealed  to 
his  mistress,  with  anxious,  trembling  whines, 
trying  to  catch  some  gleam  of  confirmation 
to  his  hope,  some  sudden,  joyous  welcome 
in  her  sad  eyes,  which  were  turned  on  all  his 
movements  with  welling  tears,  as  he  turned 
his  eager  face  and  bright,  dilating  brown 
eyes  first  to  her  and  then  toward  the  street, 
pressing  closer  and  closer  to  the  window 
pane,  and  craning  his  dainty  head  and  neck 
to  watch  the  approach  to  the  home. 

Then  he  flew  over  to  the  other  arm  of  the 
chair,  toward  the  side  door  to  the  family 
sitting-room,  his  delicate  ears  alert,  listening 

221 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

for  the  longed-for  footfalls.  They  must 
reach  him  at  last,  echoing  along  the  walk, 
and  nearer, -- nearer,  till  the  springing 
tread  should  sound  out,  clear  and  firm,  on 
the  piazza  floor,  and  the  smiling  face  of  his 
master  meet  him,  through  the  glass  door- 
way, just  as  it  used  to  be. 

Oh,  why  so  silent  ?  Why  so  long  ?  Again 
he  appealed  to  his  watching  mistress  and 
the  gentle  grand-dame,  with  her  silvery  hair. 
Would  they  not  watch?  Would  they  not 
listen  with  him  ?  Why  should  they  weep, 
now,  when  the  master  was  coming  ?  Why 
not  fling  wide  the  door?  Listen,  —  listen, 
-  it  is  almost  time. 

Tony  searched  their  faces  with  intense, 
almost  human  questioning,  then  dropped 
his  little  head  downward  and  forward,  as 
though  to  reach  forth  to  meet  the  sound  his 
waiting  soul  was  yearning  for. 

Tick-tack,  tick-tack!  The  tall  clock  on 
the  stairs  measured  only  the  muffled  foot- 
falls of  Time,  till  full  five  minutes  of  stifling, 
heartbreaking  silence  fell.  The  little  listen- 
ing ears  drooped  lower,  the  bright,  -expec- 
tant eyes  grew  dimmer,  and  cast  one  more 
appealing,  piteous  look  at  the  two  mourners. 
222 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

He  knew,  now,  why  they  wept,  and,  with  a 
little  wailing  sob,  he  threw  himself  down- 
ward upon  his  cushion,  his  nose  between  his 
tiny  paws,  with  a  gesture  of  despair  —  the 
master  could  never  come  to  him,  but  he 
would  go  to  the  master. 

Then,  there  was  her  story  of  cunning  little 
"Snap,"  that  keenest  and  purest  of  black- 
and-tans.  When  he  was  just  emerging 
from  his  puppy  pranks,  his  master,  the 
father  of  our  little  lady,  came  home  from 
his  office  at  noon  one  day  to  discover,  near 
the  house,  a  most  unsightly  break  in  his 
green,  velvety  lawn,  which  was  his  especial 
pride  and  pleasure. 

Little  eager,  digging  paws,  egged  on  by  a 
little  black  nose,  that  scented  imaginary  rats 
or  moles  while  they  made  the  dirt  fly,  had  bur- 
rowed this  black  hole  in  the  fine  green  turf. 

The  master  called  for  poor  little  Snap,  and 
he  came,  trembling  and  cringing,  pleading 
"Guilty"  from  his  crestfallen  ears  to  his 
slinking  tail.  But  the  master,  whose  heart 
was  kind,  did  not  punish  him;  he  only  said, 
as  he  pointed  to  the  sad  blemish  on  the 
smoothly  shaven  lawn,  and  looked  re- 
proachfully at  the  little  shivering  culprit: 

223 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

"Well,  I  never  thought  to  see  the  day 
when  a  dog  of  mine  would  do  such  a  dread- 
ful thing  as  this  —  never!  I  don't  know 
what  to  think;  I  can't  tell  what  to  think;  I 
never  could  have  imagined  a  dog  of  mine 
doing  such  a  dreadful  thing  as  this!" 

The  little  abject  figure  crouched  lower 
and  lower  beneath  his  words  and  tone  of 
reproach;  and  so  his  master  left  him.  When 
he  returned  a  few  hours  later  he  found  a 
changed  dog,  who  bounded  forth  to  meet 
him  —  so  glad,  so  proud,  prancing,  skip- 
ping, tail  fairly  wagging  his  little  body,  as 
he  led  the  way  to  the  desecrated  spot  of  the 
noontide.  Behold  his  labor  of  love  and 
atonement ! 

There  the  astonished  master  saw,  with 
wondering  eyes,  how  the  little  creature  had 
worked  for  hours,  drawing  back  the  loosened 
loam  and  stamping  it  down  in  place.  There 
were  all  his  little  claw-marks  in  the  moist 
edges,  and,  to  crown  his  work  of  restoration, 
he  had  gathered  all  the  scattered  bits  of 
turf  which,  in  his  morning's  ruthless  sport, 
he  had  thrown  so  carelessly  about,  and 
patted  them  in,  all  awry  to  be  sure,  but  so 
painstakingly. 
224 


Foxy, 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

The  master's  heart  was  touched,  as  he 
bent  to  give  dear  little  Snap  many  a  loving 
stroke  of  wondering  approval;  and,  from 
that  day  forth,  he  rehearsed  the  story,  as 
his  daughter  gave  it  to  mamma,  as  one  of 
the  most  convincing  proofs  of  how  we  little 
dogs  catch  at  the  tones  and  meaning  of  blame 
or  praise,  and  strive  to  merit  approval. 

Then,  there  was  her  story  of  "Foxy," 
who  belonged  to  an  intimate  friend  of  the 
lady;  how  his  mistress  would  hold  him  up 
to  a  funny  little  talking-box,  that  was  up  on 
the  side  of  the  sitting-room,  and  he  would 
press  his  little  ear  to  the  black  ear-trumpet, 
and  hear  his  master's  voice  calling,  so  far 
away: 

"Foxy,  Foxy,  there's  a  rat  down  here!" 

"Ye-ep,  ye-ep,  ye-ep!"  he  would  answer 
back  "just  hold  on;  — I'll  be  there!" 

Then  he  would  give  one  wild,  squirming 
wiggle  out  of  her  arms  on  to  the  floor  and 
out  of  the  house,  sliding  all  the  mats  in  a 
heap  behind  him. 

'Ye-ep,  ye-ep,  ye-ep!"  away  down  the 
street,  on  such  a  scuttling  gallop  that  the 
passers-by  drew  hastily  aside,  as  if  pursued 
by  a  revolving  centipede. 

227 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

'  Ye-ep,  ye-ep,  ye-ep !  Clear  the  track,  you 
poor,  idle  slow-pokes!  Can't  you  see  I'm 
telephoned  for? 

'Ye-ep,  ye-ep,  ye-ep!  Can't  you  see 
I've  got  to  gain  a  half-mile  on  a  rat,  and 
catch  him,  before  he  runs  the  length  of  my 
master's  store?" 

And  on  he  would  tear,  the  people  turning 
their  heads  to  watch  him,  and  laughing  as 
they  went,  for  in  the  little  Western  city  many 
had  become  familiar  with  Foxy  and  his 
cunning  little  tricks,  and  they  knew  well 
that  he'd  been  telephoned  for. 

Finally,  to  cheer  her  lonely  hours,  the 
little  lady  took  into  her  heart  a  dainty  King 
Charles  spaniel,  whom  the  daughter  of  the 
household  christened  "Corea."  I  was  in 
a  flutter  of  excitement  when  a  letter  came 
telling  mamma  of  her  possible  advent  ahead 
of  the  two  ladies,  the  dear  friends  she  was 
expecting. 

That  very  afternoon  there  came  the  sud- 
den rumble  of  wheels  over  the  long  red 
bridge,  and  up  drove  the  express  with  a 
mysterious  little  leathern  traveling-case, 
with  wire  bars,  like  a  bird-cage,  on  one  side. 
Mamma  brought  it  in  the  big  room  and  shut 
228 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

all  the  doors,  and  I  hopped  along  on  my 
hind  feet  beside  her,  catching  glimpses  of 
the  biggest,  brightest  pair  of  shining  black 
eyes  from  out  the  shadow  of  the  black 
leather-lined  cage.  That  was  all  we  could 
see  till  mamma  hastily  unstrapped  it,  and 
out  flew  little  Miss  Corea,  waltzing  and 
slipping  around  the  floor  of  Island  Haven. 

I  was  completely  mystified  and  puzzled, 
and  waited  to  see  her  take  off  her  black 
ostrich-feather  cloak  that  came  down  to  her 
very  toes,  but  she  seemed  to  prefer  to  keep 
it  on,  and  some  black  plumes  over  her  ears. 

She  had  such  a  tiny  little  pug  nose  and 
looked  so  odd  to  me,  I  didn't  believe  she  was 
a  dog  at  all,  until  mamma  caught  her  up  and 
hugged  her  and  said: 

''You  dear  little  traveler,  you!  How 
weary  you  must  feel,  after  your  hundreds  of 
miles.  Fairy  must  make  you  welcome,  and 
loan  you  her  little  blue-lined  basket  for  your 
own  this  summer." 

Now  I  had  never  dreamed  of  mamma 
caressing  any  dog  but  me  before,  and  a 
strange  feeling  came  welling  up  in  my  little 
throat.  The  minute  she  put  Miss  Os- 
trich-feather down  again,  I  pounced  rudely 

229 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

at  her  and  pushed  her  over  on  the  slippery 
floor.  I  was  jealous,  madly  jealous,  be- 
cause mamma  had  kissed  her,  and  because 
papa,  who  came  in  just  then,  called  her  a 
"little  beauty."  I  thought  mine  was  the 
only  style  of  beauty. 

I  was  sorry  and  ashamed  when  mamma 
had  to  comfort  the  newcomer,  and  told  me 
how  rude  and  unkind  I  had  been,  while  she 
fed  her  with  warm  milk.  But  little  Corea 
was  very  forgiving  toward  me,  and  invited 
me,  with  many  coquettish  tosses  of  her  plumy 
ears,  which  almost  swept  the  floor,  to  come 
and  play  with  her. 

I  guess  I  looked  just  as  queer  to  her,  in 
my  little  short-haired  doeskin,  the  way  she 
stared  at  me  with  her  great,  shining,  black 
eyes.  When  mamma's  friends  came,  the 
next  day,  they  found  their  little  Corea  all 
ensconced  in  my  blue-lined  basket,  and  I 
had  to  admit  she  made  a  lovely  picture. 

I  tried  hard  to  be  lady-like  when  the 
household  petted  her,  but  mamma  saw  how 
my  little  heart  swelled  up  to  see  Corea  in 
her  arms,  so  she  explained  to  her  friends 
that,  not  to  try  my  little  feelings  too  far,  she 
must  caress  her  when  I  was  not  about. 
230 


Little  Corea. 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

Still  there  was  that  rankling  jealousy  that 
made  me  feel  a  bit  glad  when  I  heard  that 
little  Miss  Fuss-and-Feathers,  as  I  called  her 
to  myself,  had  gotten  herself  into  disgrace 
by  trying  to  devour  "  The  Life  of  Bismarck" 


belonging  to  the  young  lady.  What  a 
dreadful  thing  to  do !  Corea  left  on  the  fine 
seal  binding  many  a  sad  rent  and  furrow 
from  her  little  pearly  teeth,  and  she  had  to 
be  shut  up  in  a  dark  closet,  which  was  a 
more  effective  punishment  with  her  than  a 
whipping.  Thus  soon  had  I  forgotten  the 

233 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

many  sad  slips  I  had  made  in  my  own  past 
puppy  career. 

Still,  we  all  grew  to  love  the  pretty  little 
creature,  with  her  baby  ways;  and  when  the 
sweet  summer  days  had  fled  and  her  leath- 
ern traveling-case  was  brought  forth,  I  was 
sorry  to  part  with  my  little  guest,  and  we 
kissed  each  other  good-by  through  the  wire 
bars. 


234 


CHAPTER  XV 


"  UNDERNEATH  my  stroking  hand, 
Startled  eyes  of  hazel  bland 

Kindling,  growing  larger,  — 
Up  thou  leapest  with  a  spring, 
Full  of  prank  and  cuvetting, 
Leaping  like  a  charger." 

ELIZABETH  BARRETT  BROWNING. 


OH,  wasn't  I  wild  with  delight  when, 
in  the  glorious  mid  -  September, 
while  the  sea  was  such  an  azure 
blue,  and  the  fields  all  shining  with  drifts  of 
goldenrod,  aunt  Mary  and  the  doctor  de- 
cided to  have  one  of  their  grand  picnics,  on 
the  anniversary  of  their  wedding-day.  I 
was  all  alert  for  days  before,  my  little  ears 
pricked  up  and  my  eyes  full  of  gold-and- 
brown  interrogation  points,  while  aunt 
Mary  was  discussing  with  mamma  as  to 
where  we  should  go. 

Should  we  ride  or  sail?  Should  we 
spread  our  feast  under  the  singing  pines  on 
the  lovely  shores  of  Ashumet  pond  ?  Or  on 
the  great  flat  rock  in  the  shade  of  the  redo- 

235 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

lent  fir-trees,  overlooking  the  sea  and  the 
lovely  island  of  Nausheon,  where  the  cool 
breezes  made  soft,  sighing  music  through 
the  dark  feathery  green  above  us  ?  Or 
should  we  drive  to  quaint  old  Sandwich 
town  and  encamp  by  its  purling  river?  So 
we  varied  our  programme,  but  mamma  was 
apt  to  favor  the  wood  by  the  sea. 

So,  year  after  year,  I  came  to  know  that 
the  early  stir  in  the  household,  the  array  of 
lunch-baskets,  the  preparation  of  all  sorts 
of  "goodies,"  as  my  chum,  old  Sportum, 
called  them,  all  meant  the  grand  picnic. 

I  flew  about  like  a  fawn-and-white  whirl- 
wind, in  and  out  the  kitchen,  sniffing  at  the 
savory  smell  of  sliced  ham  and  chicken,  and 
taking  a  peep  at  mamma  as  she  prepared  the 
sandwiches.  Then  away  I  ran  to  her  room 
and  reached  up  on  her  dressing-table,  to  try 
to  thrust  my  nose  through  my  best  collar, 
with  its  blue  stones,  and  golden  acorns  for 
bells,  which  I  was  sure  of  wearing  on  state 
occasions.  Finally  I  went  to  the  stable  to 
see  if  the  man,  Ramon,  who  was  always  so 
kind  to  me,  was  alive  to  the  occasion,  and 
was  brushing  Don  and  Dora,  and  harness- 
ing them  to  the  brown  canopy-topped  car- 
236 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

riage,  with  its  broad  russet  seats,  and  putting 
on  their  brown  nets,  fringed  with  yellow 
tassels,  to  keep  the  big  green-headed  flies 
from  stinging  their  glossy  brown  sides.  I 
thought  that  the  handsome  nets  were  the  very 
cap-sheaf  of  their  grandeur  as  they  pawed 
and  bridled,  nodding  their  tasseled  heads. 

When  all  the  baskets  and  wraps,  and  the 
flowers  to  deck  the  feast,  were  aboard,  I  was 
lifted,  wiggling  and  waggling,  to  the  seat. 
Mamma  charged  the  servants  to  be  careful 
of  fire  around  our  lovely  island  home,  and 
when  to  expect  us  all  to  supper,  for  she 
always  liked  to  bring  aunt  Mary  and  the 
doctor  home  with  her.  We  started  down 
the  winding  drive,  down  through  the  hills 
and  over  the  long  red  bridge,  off  the  island. 
I  could  hardly  contain  myself  when  I  heard 
the  sharp  clack,  clack  of  Don's  and  Dora's 
feet  on  the  wooden  planking,  and  knew  that 
we  were  fairly  under  way. 

I  flew  up  and  kissed  mamma's  face  and 
reached  over  and  thrust  my  sharp,  cold  nose 
against  papa's  ear,  to  tell  them  both  how 
joyous  and  thankful  my  little  heart  was,  to 
go  with  those  I  loved  and  never  to  be  for- 
gotten. 

237 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

We  wound  our  way  around  the  pretty 
cove,  past  the  ice-cold  waters  of  Hope 
spring,  where  the  happy  Indians  used  to 
camp,  so  Ramon  said,  and  where  we  used 
to  stop  so  often  to  fortify  ourselves  with  a 
drink,  under  the  big  oak-trees.  Then  we 
turned  in  by  the  big  stone  gate-posts,  and  up 
the  broad  drive  to  the  doctor's  and  aunt 
Mary's  house,  which  stood  out  on  another 
bold  hilltop  overlooking  the  bay,  and  so  near 
our  home  we  could  speak  across  the  winding 
arm  of  the  sea  which  flowed  between  us. 

They  called  it  Cedar-crest  because  of  the 
dark  green  cedar  trees  that  were  dappled 
over  the  hillside  and  gathered  in  a  shady 
grove  at  the  rear  of  the  sightly  home. 

The  doctor  had  laid  out  the  front  slope, 
overhanging  the  sea,  into  a  maze  of  artistic 
beds,  hearts  and  diamonds  and  stars  and 
crescents,  with  white-shelled  walks  between, 
and  aunt  Mary  had  planted  each  bed  with 
its  own  kind  of  lovely  flowers.  We  could 
look  across  and  see  the  bright  dashes  of 
color,  or  the  pure  white  or  great  golden- 
banded  lilies,  in  their  season,  swaying  to  and 
fro.  Now,  as  we  wound  up  the  drive, 
against  the  soft  west  breeze,  I  craned  my 
238 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

slender  neck  far  out  of  the  carriage  and 
sniffed  at  the  sweet  perfume  of  the  flower- 
laden  air  —  for  I  had  learned  that  people 
loved  flowers,  so  I  loved  them  too.  Papa 
always  liked  to  wear  a  rose  in  his  button- 
hole, and  I  would  smell  it  and  kiss  it;  then 
mamma  would  fasten  one  in  my  collar,  and 
I  felt  very  proud.  She  called  the  little  white 
rock-rose  "Fairy's  flower,"  because  she  said 
it  asked  so  little  in  the  world  to  make  it 
bright  and  happy  --  opening  its  shining 
white  heart  in  drought  and  heat.  When 
she  fastened  one  in  my  collar,  and  I  wore  it 
all  the  long  summer  day,  it  would  shut  its 
little  eye  at  night,  and  sleep  while  I  slept; 
but  with  the  first  rosy  flush  of  morning  over 
the  sea,  when  I  waked,  it  would  be  opening ' 
its  little  heart  again,  after  the  long  night, 
with  never  a  drop  of  dew  only  what  it  could 
store  in  its  own  little  breast. 

Well,  to  go  back  to  the  picnic :  there  stood 
Kitty,  the  dark  dappled  mare,  seal-brown, 
nearly  black,  with  her  shining  coat  and  her 
long  tail  almost  sweeping  the  ground,  for 
neither  the  doctor  nor  papa  ever  thought  of 
such  a  cruel  thing  as  chopping  off  the  tail  of 
a  beautiful  horse  and  disfiguring  and  tor- 

239 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

menting  a  good  friend  for  life.  They 
thought  God  knew  how  to  finish  his  work; 
and  they  knew,  too,  that  he  would  call  all 
to  answer  for  every  pain  unnecessarily  in- 
flicted upon  the  defenseless  creatures  in- 
trusted to  the  care  of  man. 

Kitty  was  full  of  fire  and  spirit,  but  she 
was  so  thoroughbred  she  did  not  need  even 
to  wear  blinders,  but  rolled  her  great  brown 
eyes  backward  toward  the  pretty  red- 
wheeled  phaeton,  to  see  if  doctor  and  aunt 
Mary  were  safely  seated.  Then  away  she 
flew,  leading  the  way  over  hill  and  dale,  past 
the  little  seaside  settlements  and  country 
towns,  with  their  small  white  church  and 
school-house,  setting  across  the  road  from 
each  other  —  on  and  on,  till  the  bright 
morning  was  melting  into  the  hot  noontide, 
and  all  were  getting  warm  and  hungry ;  then 
reaching  the  wooded  lane,  we  swept  in 
under  the  dark,  shady  fir-trees,  and  were 
grateful  to  feel  and  hear  the  cool  sea-breeze 
singing  in  the  branches. 

While  the  horses  were  being  unharnessed, 

lightly  blanketed,  and  tethered  among  the 

trees,  to  have  their  well-earned  dinner  of 

nice  oats,  brought  along  with  our  own  bas- 

240 


e 

o 

-e 

8 


~ 

1 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

kets  of  dainties,  aunt  Mary  spread  a  big 
white  linen  table-cover  over  the  great  flat 
rock,  and  the  wonderful  contents  of  the 
many  baskets  began  to  issue  forth. 

Mamma  laid  out  first  a  lot  of  bright  new 
tin  plates  and  drinking-cups,  that  shone  in 
the  dappled  rifts  of  sunshine  like  real  silver. 

When  all  the  heaped-up  plates  of  sand- 
wiches, cold  boiled  eggs  with  spiced  stuf- 
fing, dainty  baskets  of  velvety  red  peaches, 
purple  grapes,  golden  oranges,  with  the 
emerald  and  saffron  of  the  luscious  cante- 
loupes,  and  here  and  there  a  loaf  of  aunt 
Mary's  delicious  frosted  layer-cake  were  set 
forth,  the  great  rocky  table  was  just  lovely  to 
look  at,  and  my  little  mouth  would  fairly 
water  while  I  was  waiting  for  papa  to  adjust 
his  camera,  to  make  a  picture  of  the  picnic 
group  as  they  gathered  round  the  festive 
sylvan  board.  I  wriggled  around  so  that 
I  almost  always  had  two  heads  and  two 
tails  when  the  picture  was  finished  and 
Kitty  and  Don  and  Dora,  in  the  background, 
usually  had  the  same  extra  features;  but 
aunt  Mary  said  she  liked  the  pictures,  just 
the  same,  as  souvenirs  of  the  occasion. 

Then  all  made  merry,  and  the  bright  air 

243 


and  sunshine  and  light  hearts  gave  a  keen 
zest  to  the  tempting  viands,  and  the  silver 
cups  were  stretched  forth  for  replenishing 
with  aunt  Mary's  delicious  coffee.  She 
always  looked  out  that  I  had  my  own  little 
cup  of  sweet,  creamy  milk,  in  my  snug  cor- 
ner between  her  and  mamma,  as  well  as 
many  a  tidbit  of  cold  ham  and  chicken, 
with  bits  of  sugar  frosting  from  the  cake. 

I  sat  very  still  and  ate  what  they  gave  me, 
and  looked  from  one  to  another  and  tried 
to  smile  my  approval  out  of  my  loving  eyes, 
which  they  said  were  like  a  doe's,  as  the 
merry  jest  went  round,  for  I  caught  at  the 
meaning  of  nearly  everything.  My  heart 
fairly  brimmed  over  with  joy  when  little 
flaxen-haired,  blue-eyed  Violet,  the  little 
girl  guest  of  the  occasion,  whispered: 

"Isn't  Fairy  the  sweetest  darling  of  all, 
mamma?" 

All  arose  refreshed  from  that  sylvan 
board;  then  came  the  restful  ride  homeward 
in  the  cool  of  the  day,  the  supper  at  sun- 
down, the  quiet  watching  of  the  western 
glow  over  the  sea,  as  I  curled,  a  little  lump 
of  contentment,  in  aunt  Mary's  lap.  I  al- 
ways tried  to  show  her  my  great  love  by 
244 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

sitting  in  her  lap,  even  in  preference  to 
mamma's,  when  she  was  our  guest,  but  I 
would  run  over,  now  and  then,  and  give 
mamma  a  reassuring  kiss.  So  the  sun  sank 
on  another  beautiful  anniversary  day  of  life 
and  love,  hope  and  trust. 


245 


CHAPTER   XVI 


"  THEREFORE  to  this  dog  will  I, 
Tenderly  not  scornfully, 

Render  praise  and  favor: 
With  my  hand  upon  thy  head ; 
Is  my  benediction  said 
Therefore   and   forever ! " 
ELIZABETH  BARRETT  BROWNING. 


I  DEARLY  loved  all  the  guests  who 
came  to  Island  Haven,  and  especially 
one  sweet  young  girl,  who  always  loved 
and  petted  me.  She  was  tall  and  fair,  and 
had  beautiful  dar.k  blue  eyes,  with  long, 
curling  dark  brown  lashes;  some  thought 
her  eyes  were  black,  but  that  was  only  in 
the  shadow.  I  knew  they  were  a  deep 
pansy  blue,  like  mamma's  garden  violets; 
blue  heart's-ease  was  the  old-fashioned 
name  for  the  flower,  but  it  was  whispered 
around  as  a  secret  that  Beulah's  beautiful 
eyes  brought  unrest  to  some  brave  hearts. 

Her  thick,  wavy  hair  had  golden  glints  in 
it  when  the  sun  struck  across  it,  and  all  the 
246 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

little  stray  locks  curled  up  in  cunning  ring- 
lets in  the  moist  sea  air. 

Mamma  said  that  Beulah's  mouth  was 
a  regular  "Cupid's  bow."  I  didn't  know 
what  that  meant;  I  only  knew  her  lips  looked 
red  and  sweet,  and  when  she  laughed, 
throwing  back  her  head,  showing  her  pearly 
white  teeth,  it  was  such  a  merry  peal  every- 
body had  to  laugh  with  her. 

She  had  such  lovely  gowns,  too,  they  all 
agreed.  One,  the  color  of  her  eyes,  was 
cut  away  square  from  her  full  white  neck, 
with  soft  laces  just  shading  it.  Her  gowns 
were  all  so  simply  made  and  she  looked  so 
sweet  in  everything;  mamma  said  She  was 
like  an  old-time  portrait  of  some  fair  lady, 
off  a  castle  wall. 

They  gave  Beulah  the  "bridal  chamber, " 
as  they  called  it,  with  its  big  round  bay  of 
seven  windows,  looking  out  over  the  sea. 
The  room  was  all  in  white,  like  the  snow, 
with  white  silk  embroidered  draperies,  and 
when  she  had  adorned  it  with  all  her  pictures 
and  girlish  notions,  mamma  and  I  used  to 
love  to  glance  in  and  see  her  sleeping  in  the 
rosy  morning  light,  the  sweetest  picture  of 
all,  her  golden  hair  flowing  carelessly  over 

247 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

the  pillow,  her  long,  fringed  lashes  resting 
lightly  over  her  delicately  tinted  cheeks,  — 
like  a  sleeping  sea-nymph. 

How  I  loved  to  be  sent  to  kiss  her  hand, 
to  wake  her,  and  watch  for  the  first  peep  of 


her  laughing  eyes  from  under  their  fringy 
curtains.  I  used  to  feel  she  was  all  my  very 
own. 

But  one  day  a  stranger  came  between  us, 

and  my  little  heart  was  forlorn  and  hurt  at 

first,    and   I   eyed   him   askance.     Mamma 

and  I  were  down  by  the  big  lily-pond,  look- 

248 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

ing  at  a  great  yellow-throated,  green- 
jacketed  frog,  who  sat  on  a  wide,  cool,  lily- 
pad,  blinking  his  golden  eyes  at  us  and  call- 
ing out  "Cl-lunk-cl-lunk!"  with  such  a 
mysterious  air,  to  call  us  back,  every  time 
we  started  to  leave  him.  He  made  merri- 
ment for  everybody  with  his  social  ways. 
He  would  come  up  every  morning  to  be  fed, 
and  delighted  to  sit  on  the  circular  stone 
edge  of  the  pond  and  let  the  little  folks 
stroke  his  back  gently  with  a  lily  bud,  or 
even  their  fingers,  but  if  I  got  too  interested 
and  tried  to  kiss  him,  he  would  give  such 
a  great  floperty-flump,  splashing  into  the 
water,  that  I  would  jump  almost  as  high  as 
he  did. 

Hearing  voices,  we  looked  up,  to  see 
Beulah  standing  on  the  high  stone  steps  at 
the  entrance,  between  the  pillars,  with  the 
flowers  and  vines  framing  in  her  lovely  face 
and  form,  while  several  steps  below,  a  hand- 
some young  stranger,  with  uncovered  head, 
his  dark  eyes  upraised  to  the  blushing  face 
above  him,  was  inquiring  for  the  host  and 
hostess  of  Island  Haven. 

Mamma  told  papa  as  soon  as  he  came, 
with  such  a  voice  and  air  of  mystery  that  I 

249 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

was  greatly  impresssed,  that  she  believed 
that  Fate  had  sent  him  to  our  castle  by  the 
sea,  where  we  had  boasted  that  we  were 
safe  from  snares. 

And  she  went  on  to  tell  what  a  fine  pic- 
ture the  two  made,  with  the  old  rustic  stone- 
work, mossed  in  the  young  tendrils  of  the 
creeping  ivy,  for  a  setting;  how  charming 
Beulah  looked  in  her  filmy  white  gown  of 
clinging  Swiss  muslin,  with  an  arm-load  of 
red-rambler  roses  she  had  been  gathering 
for  the  dining-room,  with  the  spreading  oak 
tree  overhanging  the  entrance  forming  a 
canopy  of  rustling,  glistening  green  above 
her. 

She  described  how  our  handsome  knight- 
errant,  for  that  was  what  she  called  him, 
with  the  sun  burnishing  his  clustering  locks, 
his  fine  head  thrown  slightly  backward,  but 
with  one  foot  advanced,  as  though  bound 
to  climb  to  her  sooner  or  later,  had  halted 
between  the  two  big  flower  urns,  which  bore 
two  cameo  sphinxes,  their  mysterious,  silent 
lips  just  on  a  level  with  his  own  questioning 
ones. 

Mamma  hurried  forward  to  meet  our  new 
visitor,  who  proved  to  be  the  son  of  a  dear 
250 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

old  friend,  bearing  his  credentials  with  him, 
and  warm  welcome  and  hearty  greetings 
followed. 

He  was  just  out  of  college,  and  going  far 
away  over  the  sea,  to  carve  out  his  fortune, 
he  told  them. 

"So  you  are  fancy  free?"  asked  mamma. 

"  Oh,  yes  —  fancy  free  —  without  even  an 
image  in  my  heart,"  he  laughed,  and  struck 
his  broad  breast  gayly,  but,  in  the  very  act, 
he  cast  a  furtive  glance,  all  unconsciously  to 
himself,  at  Beulah's  downcast  lids  with  their 
long,  fringed  lashes  sweeping  her  suffused 
cheeks,  and  that  moment,  mamma  said 
afterward,  Cupid,  that  little  mischievous 
elf,  who  had  landed,  no  one  knew  how  or 
when,  on  our  peaceful  island,  filled  his 
quiver  with  keenest  arrows. 

But  I  held  out  against  the  winning 
stranger  just  as  long  as  I  could.  I  sulked 
and  moped,  and  stood  aloof  from  their 
happy  strolls  and  mutual  talks,  till  finally, 
one  day,  I  was  so  grieved  and  lonely,  I  broke 
down  and  went  creeping  up,  trembling,  into 
Beulah's  white  arms,  and  with  little  pitiful 
cries,  covered  her  sweet,  warm  neck  with 
kisses.  She  seemed  to  suddenly  understand 

251 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

my  gentle  reproof,  and  feeling  the  earnest, 
questioning  gaze  of  a  pair  of  dark  eyes  bent 
upon  her,  she  hid  her  face  on  my  silky 
breast,  and  held  me  closely  to  her  heart; 
and  while  she  held  me  there,  without  ever 
speaking  a  word,  she  told  me  that  heart  was 
big  enough  for  two. 

Gaylord  came  and  stood  beside  her  and 
stroked  my  little  head  as  I  cuddled  on  her 
shoulder,  and,  soothed  and  comforted,  my 
heart  melted  toward  him,  for  I  felt  rein- 
stated; I  took  him  into  the  circle,  —  more 
than  that,  I  was  his  faithful  little  ally  ever 
after. 

I  have  to  make  this  little  story  short,  al- 
though you  may  think  it  one  of  my  sweetest 
ones.  From  that  day  forth,  I  aided  and 
abetted  that  mysterious  Cupid  all  I  could, 
though  I  never  caught  sight  of  him.  I 
pawed  down  Beulah's  very  prettiest  songs 
off  the  piano,  so  that  the  sea-breeze  from 
the  wide-open  door  took  them  and  spread 
them  at  his  feet,  with  her  name  written 
broad  in  the  corners.  Then  of  course  he 
had  to  urge  her  to  sing  to  him  in  her  low, 
rich  voice,  and  she  could  not  say  him  nay, 
nor  find  excuse. 


"  /  would  overturn  the  old  shields  and  curios" 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Then,  when  the  singing  was  over,  if 
Beulah  wandered  into  the  cozy  Oriental 
corner,  where  the  jeweled  Arabic  lamp  cast 
a  soft  rainbow  light,  and  the  beaded  por- 
tieres screened  off  this  recess  in  the  stone 
tower  from  the  big  reception-room,  I  would 
poke  my  slim  little  nose  through  the  crystal 
curtain  and  begin  to  snuff  and  paw,  and  to 
pretend  I  smelled  a  mouse.  I  would  over- 
turn the  old  shields  and  curios,  burrow 
under  the  bright  cushions,  and  stir  up  a  great 
commotion,  till  Gaylord  actually  had  to 
assist  and  defend  Beulah  from  whatever 
danger  might  appear  in  my  pursuit. 

But  some  way  the  mouse  never  quite 
came  to  light;  and  some  way,  too,  just  as 
they  got  cozily  seated,  I  would  see  fit  to  give 
over  my  quest  and  curl  down  on  the  soft 
silk  cushions  beside  them,  shut  my  eyes 
and  listen  to  the  sweet  rise  and  fall  of  their 
young  voices,  in  the  half  jest,  half  earnest, 
of  that  delightful  hour,  while  Beulah's 
white,  nestling  hands  toyed  with  my  silky 
ears,  so  eager  to  divine  their  w^ords. 

Another  day  at  sunset,  when  my  lord  had 
made  a  bold  break,  and  walked  away  by 
himself  to  the  little  white  kiosk  among  the 

255 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

juniper  trees,  overhanging  the  sea,  and  sat 
there  very  meditatively,  as  though  he  were 
turning  over  and^  over  in  his  thoughts  some 
great  but  happy  venture,  I  knew  he  was 
hoping  those  blue  heart's-ease  eyes  would 
follow  him.  But  their  possessor  sat  still 
on  the  porch,  just  as  meditatively  pulling 
a  red  rose  to  pieces,  each  all  too  conscious 
of  the  other's  whereabouts.  I,  too,  was  ill 
at  ease. 

So  I  crept  up  stealthily  and  plucked 
away  my  lady's  filmy  lace  handkerchief  and 
flew  away  down  the  shell  walk  with  it,  and 
laid  it  at  Gaylord's  feet  as  he  sat  there  alone. 

He  picked  it  up  eagerly  and  laid  it  in  his 
broad  palm,  and  looked  down  upon  it  with 
such  a  tender  smile  in  his  dark  eyes,  as 
though  it  were  some  little  live  thing.  Then 
he  waved  it  gently  to  and  fro,  as  a  man 
would  handle  a  cobweb,  and  breathed  its 
faint,  violet  odor. 

'You  little  good  Fairy!  How  keen  your 
beautiful  eyes  are!"  he  whispered,  giving 
me  a  love-pat.  I  could  see  he  longed  to 
keep  the  fleecy  little  thing,  and  finally  he 
folded  it  and  hid  it  away  in  his  breast  pocket, 
instead  of  sending  me  back  with  it. 
256 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

I  whimpered  and  pulled  at  his  sleeve, 
flying  off  a  step  or  two  toward  the  house  to 
show  him,  and  tell  him  as  well  as  I  could, 
that  he  was  in  the  wrong  place,  and  making 
himself  and  somebody  else  lonely,  when  we 
three  might  be  so  gay  and  happy  together. 

Presently,  to  my  delight,  he  started  back 
for  the  porch  where  Beulah  was  sitting. 
He  couldn't  stand  that  waiting  attitude  any 
longer,  any  more  than  I  could. 

I  bounded  ahead  as  he  ascended  the  long 
flight  of  broad  stone  steps.  Beulah  clapped 
her  pretty  white  hands  playfully  at  me  in 
welcome,  and  I,  espying  a  red  rose  just  fall- 
ing from  her  corsage,  leaped  up,  quicker 
than  light,  caught  it  and  turned  back  to 
Gaylord,  holding  forth  to  him  the  crimson 
offering. 

I  was  trying  to  start  a  gay  frolic  as  rose- 
bearer  back  and  forth  between  them,  but  I 
had  to  take  it  as  a  matter  of  course  when 
Gaylord  bowed  low  to  my  lady,  and  said  in 
such  an  earnest  voice: 

"  With  your  permission,  Miss  Bond,"  and 
adjusted  the  flower  in  his  left  lapel,  both 
taking  advantage  of  my  part  in  the  presenta- 
tion to  laugh  and  make  jest  of  it  all,  but  I 

257 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

could  see  Beulah's  soft  cheeks  blushing  red 
as  the  rose  I  had  stolen. 

How  glad  I  was  that  neither  papa  nor 
mamma,  nor  any  one  else,  happened  to  come 
on  the  veranda.  I  wanted  them  all  to  my- 
self, and  more  than  that,  something  told  me 
that  they  two  loved  to  sit  alone  together  in 
this  happy  quiet,  watching  the  crimson  glow 
over  land  and  sea  fading  to  dusky  purple. 
When  the  great  round  moon  came  climbing 
up  above  the  whispering  pines,  casting  a 
silvery  trail  over  the  bright,  rippling  waters, 
they  said  she  turned  all  to  fairy-land,  which 
I  felt  was  some  implied  compliment  to 
me,  for  was  not  my  name  "Fairy-Moon- 
light?" 

How  they  laughed  as  I  bridled  my  slender 
head  from  side  to  side  with  a  birdlike  preen- 
ing motion,  and  then  with  little  whirls  and 
flourishes,  and  loud  spatting  of  my  tiny  feet 
on  the  piazza  floor,  I  told  them  as  plain  as 
day  that  I  was  impatient  to  show  them  the 
way  into  this  enchanted  land. 

Gaylord  was  not  slow  to  take  the  hint. 
"  Shall  we  stroll  on  the  shore  ?  the  night  is  so 
beautiful!"  he  asked,  and  Beulah  answered: 

'Yes,  little  Fairy  will  be  so  delighted, 
258 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

she  is  trying  hard  to  tell  us  to  take  a  ramble 
so  she  may  stretch  her  fleet  limbs." 

So  I  joyously  led  the  way,  and  they  de- 
scended the  long  flight  of  steps  leading  down 
the  wooded  bluff  to  an  Oriental  pavilion, 
where  the  row-boat  lay  anchored  and  rock- 
ing on  the  moon-lit  waters.  My  resolve 
was  quickly  taken,  and  before  they  could 
recall  me,  I  had  made  a  flying  leap  and 
landed  in  the  pretty  white  boat.  I  sat  de- 
liberately down  in  the  prow  like  a  little 
figure-head,  as  though,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
they  must  come  also;  there  was  nothing  else 
to  do. 

"Of  course  we  can't  disappoint  little 
Fairy;  she  does  so  delight  to  row?"  and 
Beulah  could  not  disagree. 

So  the  boat  was  pulled  in,  and  Gaylord 
had  to  carry  Beulah  a  little  way,  because 
the  tide  was  so  high  against  the  high,  grassy 
bluff  there  was  no  dry  footing,  and  the  trees 
cast  a  deep  shadow  right  there. 

I  watched  and  waited  while  he  seated  her 
in  the  boat  and  drew  her  white  ostrich-lined 
cape  around  her  fair  shoulders  and  neck, 
which  were  dazzling  white,  like  chiseled 
marble,  in  the  moonlight.  I  could  see  with 

259 


YOURS   WITH   ALL  MY   HEART 

my  own  eyes  that  she  looked  just  as  sweet 
and  shy  as  mamma's  lovely  Venus,  hidden 
among  the  flowers,  and  when  he  obeyed  her 
request  to  lift  me  and  place  me  under  the 
same  fluffy  cape,  I  couldn't  help  feeling 
that  his  strong  hand  was  not  quite  steady, 
and  when  Beulah  gathered  me  close,  she 
was  trembling  too. 

Then  we  drifted  out  under  the  full  moon, 
to  the  ripple  of  the  waves.  Perhaps  I  dozed 
a  little  in  my  cozy  nest,  to  the  rocking  of  the 
boat,  —  at  any  rate  I  always  thought  they 
forgot  I  was  there,  for  Gaylord  forgot  to  use 
his  oars  as  they  floated  far  out  with  the  tide, 
and  their  voices  grew  softer  and  lower.  I 
couldn't  help  hearing,  but  I  will  never,  never 
tell  one  of  the  dear,  sacred  words  they  said; 
and  when  it  grew  so  still,  I  would  not  have 
stirred  and  broken  that  sweet  spell  which 
bound  them,  for  all  the  world. 

I  could  feel  her  gentle  heart  beating  like 
the  wings  of  a  prisoned  dove,  but  I  never 
looked  nor  stirred.  I  made  believe  I  was 
fast  asleep  and  dreaming  sweet  dreams  for 
them  and  for  me,  but  I  waked  up  when  I 
caught  a  little  smothered  sigh  from  Beulah, 
260 


"  We  drifted  out  under  1he  full  moon." 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  mamma's  voice  came  softly  calling  from 

the  bluff: 

"Fairy,  Fairy,  where  are  you?" 

Yes,  where  was  I,  and  where  were  they? 

Drifting  through  enchanted  land. 

Gaylord  picked  up  his   oars   and   made 

a  show  of   rowing  vigorously  in,  while   he 

started    an     old    song    in    his    rich,    deep 

voice,    and    Beulah    joined    him    in    little 

quavers  with  her  sweet  mezzo: 

"Come  where  my  Love  lies  dreaming, 
Dreaming  the  happy  hours  away." 

Did  ever  voices  sound  so  sweet  before,  or 
words  so  tender,  as  they  floated  clear  and 
wide  on  the  night  winds  over  the  moonlit 
sea. 

And  so,  amid  much  jesting,  we  landed  at 
mamma's  feet  at  last,  and  they  told  her  how 
I  had  decoyed  them  into  a  little  moonlight 
row,  but  when  Gaylord  lifted  me  in  his  arms 
to  give  me  to  mamma,  I  knew  I  hadn't  been 
dreaming,  for  I  felt  his  strong  heart  beating 
like  the  thudding  footfalls  of  a  race-horse, 
and  it  couldn't  have  been  the  rowing,  for 
the  oars  were  featherweights  in  his  vigorous 
young  arms. 

263 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

As  mamma  reached  out  to  take  me  from 
him,  I  saw  her  eyes  rest  on  the  crushed 
crimson  rose  he  treasured,  which  she  had 
seen  at  sundown  nestling  at  Beulah's  fair 
throat,  and  she  might  have  caught  a  breath 
of  the  young  girl's  favorite  perfume  from 
the  filmy  lace  I  had  helped  him  purloin;  and 
there  was  an  undertone  in  their  voices  and 
just  a  little  tremor  in  their  gayety  that  must 
have  told  her  more. 

For  she  did  not  linger,  but  said,  **  Good- 
night, good-night,  my  children,"  more  ten- 
derly than  usual  if  anything,  and  left  them 
standing  on  the  shore. 

Was  it  a  drop  of  night  dew  from  the  over- 
hanging branches,  or  was  it  a  tear  that  fell 
on  my  little  head,  as  she  climbed  the  steep 
steps  with  me  and  bore  me  toward  her  cham- 
ber, for  mamma  sighed  deeply  and  said: 

"  Oh,  would  that  these  young  hearts  might 

dream  on  forever,  and  know  no  rude  awaken- 

•      i " 
ing! 

I  never  told  a  word,  but  the  next  morning, 
when  the  soft  chime  had  sounded  for  the 
family  to  gather,  and  I  hurried  joyfully,  as 
I  always  did,  to  join  them,  then  Gaylord 
took  Beulah  boldly  by  the  hand,  and  they 
264 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

came  and  stood  before  papa  and  mamma 
by  the  great  fire-place,  while  he  said : 

"  Pray  give  us  your  blessing,  dear  friends, 
against  the  day  when  her  Bond-age  shall 
end,  —  mine  has  already  begun. " 

Beulah  could  not  look  up,  for  glad,  shy 
tears  were  bedewing  her  long  lashes;  but 
mamma  kissed  her  white  forehead  and  said : 

" God  bless  you  and  keep  you!" 

A  little  song-sparrow,  on  the  oak-tree 
outside  the  door,  warbled  a  sweet  Amen. 

Then  Gaylord,  to  relieve  the  silence  that 
fell,  suddenly  stooped  and  petted  me,  and 
said  gayly: 

"This  is  the  little  good  Fairy  who  has 
aided  and  abetted  in  my  capture,  all  the  way 
through,  --bless  her  little  heart!" 

Joyful  benediction!  I  was  blest  indeed, 
and  my  little  heart  swelled  with  proud  satis- 
faction to  think  how  I  had  helped  Cupid  to 
tangle  and  tie  the  silken  cords  of  Love. 


265 


CHAPTER   XVII 


"  DIDST  thou  not  watch  for  hours  our  track, 

And  for  the  absent  seem  to  pine, 
And  when  the  well-known  voice  came  back, 
What  ecstacy  could  equal  thine  ?  " 

ELIZABETH  CHAULES. 


THERE  came  one  dark  October 
night  I  shall  never  forget.  We 
were  on  our  way  again  for  doc- 
tor's and  aunt  Mary's.  The  wind  came  up 
off  the  sea  and  sighed  through  the  trees, 
like  a  sad  song  of  parting.  A  shadow  fell 
over  my  little  heart  that  had  been  so  full  of 
love  and  trust  all  its  life;  a  dread  and  fear 
seized  upon  me,  I  could  not  tell  why.  I 
felt  it  when  mamma  held  me  close  over  her 
heart,  and  sat  silently  in  the  dark;  and  when 
we  got  to  aunt  Mary's  and  the  bright  lamps 
were  lighted,  I  still  clung  close  around  her 
neck  with  my  slender  arms,  and  would  not 
be  put  down  upon  the  carpet,  to  play  with 
old  Sportum  and  caper  around  the  way  I 
always  had  done. 
266 


"  She  looks  at  me  with  such  great  pleading  eyes." 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

They  said,  half  whispering,  "How  can 
the  little  thing  mistrust  it?" 

''That's  just  what  breaks  my  heart,"  said 
mamma;  "she  knows  it  already,  and  she 
looks  at  me  with  such  great  pleading  eyes. 
She  hasn't  seen  one  thing  to  tell  her;  they 
surely  can  read  our  very  thoughts." 

"I  know  they  can,"  said  aunt  Mary. 
"But  you  can  be  sure,  Stella,  that  we  will 
do  all  in  our  power  to  make  her  happy. 
She  will  be  thinking  every  day  that  you  are 
coming  back,  and  she  will  play  with  Spor- 
tum,  and  the  doctor  will  talk  to  her,  to  help 
pass  the  time  away,  the  same  as  he  always 
does." 

I  shook  and  trembled  as  though  I  had  an 
ague  chill ;  the  terrible  dread  at  my  heart  had 
taken  shape  —  mamma  and  papa  were  go- 
ing away  to  leave  me! 

I  know,  now,  that  mamma  had  almost  a 
mind  to  give  it  up  for  days,  as,  with  a  sober 
face,  she  found  me  curled  inside  her  half- 
packed  trunk  or  an  open  suit-case. 

I  had  seen  the  packing  every  fall  and 
spring,  but  I  never  was  so  apprehensive 
before.  I  would  not  let  papa  nor  mamma 
go  out  of  my  sight  for  one  moment,  but 

269 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

followed  them,  stealing  from  room  to  room 
with  wistful  eyes.  At  night  I  would  be  pil- 
lowed in  their  arms,  rousing  at  the  slightest 
move,  and  clinging,  trembling,  to  mamma's 
neck  --  not  daring  to  sleep  and  dream  my 
sweet,  happy  dreams,  as  of  old. 

Christmas  day  came,  cold  and  bright. 
Mamma  buttoned  on  my  brown,  fur- 
trimmed  blanket,  and  a  brand-new  steel- 
trimmed  harness,  with  a  shining  plated 
chain  to  lead  me  by,  and  started  out  to  walk 
with  papa,  to  dine  with  aunt  Mary  and  the 
doctor.  There  were  bells  on  my  harness 
and  bells  on  my  collar;  my  gay  trappings 
and  the  rattle  of  the  chain  all  seemed  quite 
impressive,  and  some  little  boys  we  passed 
stood  still  and  whispered,  one  to  another, 
"There  goes  a  bloodhound!"  They  had 
somewhere  seen  performing  dogs  led  by 
chains.  This  made  papa  smile,  as  I  looked 
more  like  a  tiny  doe  than  I  did  like  the 
bloodthirsty  canine  they  imagined.  But  for 
once  all  my  proud  array,  and  the  walk, 
which  was  usually  my  delight,  failed  to 
cheer  me. 

When  I  arrived  at  aunt  Mary's,  she  took 
off  all  my  little  things  and  hung  them  in 
270  " 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

the  hall  closet,  and  when  I  went  in  the  sit- 
ting-room, there  was  my  little  white  basket. 
How  had  it  been  spirited  over  from  the 
island  ?  She  had  lined  it  all  new  with  lovely 
blue,  and  covered  cushion  and  all.  I  knew 
-  I  understood;  I  was  to  stay  behind;  there 


were  all  my  little  worldly  goods.  I  crept  in 
and  crossed  my  fore  paws,  and  looked  out 
at  them  all  with  wistful  eyes  and  listening 
ears.  I  was  too  sad  to  be  proud  of  my 
beautiful  face  and  form  against  the  soft  blue 
background. 

Aunt  Mary  said  I  was  a  little  beauty  and 

271 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

the  doctor  said,  "Fairy  is  the  doctor's  own 
little  baby-dog,"  but  I  couldn't  run  and 
nestle  my  head  against  him,  in  my  bird-like 
way,  as  aunt  Mary  called  it,  in  answer,  for 
my  heart  was  too  heavy.  How  it  yearned 
to  hold  those  four  dear  faces  within  the 
vision  of  my  watching  eyes. 

But  as  the  sun  was  sinking  in  the  west 
and  lighting  all  the  sea  and  sky  with  crim- 
son and  gold,  mamma  took  me  gently  from 
my  little  basket  and  held  me  close  in  her 
arms,  while  she  stood  and  looked  across  at 
our  dear  Island  Haven,  flooded  with  the 
rosy  light.  I  could  feel  her  heart  beating 
fast  and  heavily  as  she  pressed  her  cheek 
upon  my  little  head,  and  her  tears  fell  on  my 
silky  ears  when  she  laid  me  in  aunt  Mary's 
arms  and  said: 

"My  darling  little  Fairy  is  going  to  stay 
with  aunt  Mary  and  the  doctor." 

I  understood  it  all.  I  tried  to  be  brave 
and  obedient,  but  I  gave  her  such  a  look  of 
pain  and  longing  and  reproach,  out  of  my 
great,  startled,  loving  eyes,  that  it  haunted 
her  many  a  day  when  she  was  far  away, 
and  she  had  hard  work  to  speak  and  say 
good-by  to  the  friends  she  loved. 
272 


YOURS  WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

Papa  took  me  in  his  arms  a  moment  and 
fondled  me  tenderly  and  said,  "  Good-by, 
little  Sweetheart!"  and  passed  me  back  to 
aunt  Mary. 

They  all  shook  hands  with  long,  strong 
clasp,  and  the  waiting  carriage  drove  away 
with  them.  I  watched  it  with  straining 
eyes,  welling  with  tears.  I  could  see  papa 
waving  his  hat  and  mamma  her  white 
handkerchief  in  a  long  farewell,  and  aunt 
Mary  and  the  doctor  waved  back.  We 
could  see  them  as  the  carriage  whirled  by 
the  big  oak  and  Hope  spring,  around  the 
Cove,  in  the  western  sunlight  —  on  past 
the  red  bridge,  till  they  turned  from  my 
wistful,  straining  sight  into  the  wood,  near- 
ing  the  station. 

I  knew  they  were  going  far,  far  away, 
beyond  our  city  home,  and  my  little  heart 
was  following  after  like  a  winged  bird.  It 
followed  them  over  the  stormy  ocean,  the 
burning  deserts  of  Egypt,  the  stony  moun- 
tains of  Palestine,  and  the  snowy  passes  of 
Syria,  clear  through  the  lands  of  the  Sphinx, 
the  Cross  and  the  Crescent;  and  at  every 
halting-place  dear  faithful  aunt  Mary  sent 
a  letter  to  meet  them,  to  tell  them  that  their 

273 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

little  Fairy  was  trying  to  be  brave  and  good 
and  happy.  I  understood  that  her  letters 
were  going  to  mamma,  and  I  would  kiss 
them  and  try  so  hard  to  speak.  Sometimes 
aunt  Mary  would  put  the  pen  in  my  little 
slender  fingers,  and  let  me  write,  "Fairy 
sends  her  love!"  with  her  aid.  Once,  she 
inked  the  tips  of  my  little  finger-toes,  and 
let  me  make  a  precious  footprint  for  a 
postscript  to  one  letter  which  was  to  meet 
them  at  Jerusalem,  where  aunt  Mary  said 
they  were  tracing  the  footprints  of  Him 
who  was  the  first  to  teach  that  the  heart  of 
God  went  out  to  all  His  dumb  creatures, 
and  that  they,  too,  were  His  children,  for 
whose  welfare  He  holds  man  responsible. 


274 


Old  Sportum. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 


"  You  did,  old  dog,  the  best  you  knew, 
And  that  is  better  than  most  men  do; 
And  if  ever  I  get  to  the  great  just  place, 
I  shall  look  for  your  honest,  kind  old  face." 
(By  Permission.}  WILL  CARLETON. 


AJNT  Mary,  true  to  her  promise, 
would  lay  by  everything  else,  and  sit 
and  hold  me  by  the  hour,  to  cheer 
and  comfort  me;  and  the  doctor  would  tell 
me  such  nice  stories,  in  the  long  winter  days, 
about  the  rats  and  the  mice.  Old  Spor- 
tum,  the  big  tan-and-white  bull-dog,  gave 
up  the  best  of  everything  to  me.  He  never 
touched  the  dainty  dishes  aunt  Mary  set 
down  for  me,  until  I  had  eaten  my  fill,  and 
not  then,  till  I  ran  and  touched  his  ear  with 
my  little  nose.  Aunt  Mary  used  to  wonder 
just  how  I  told  him. 

Of  a  cold  winter  morning,  when  I  thought 
old  Sportum  had  got  his  cushion  in  the 
wicker  chair  nice  and  warm,  I  would  run 
up  and  whisper  in  his  ear,  and  he  would 

277 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

get  right  down  and  give  me  the  warm  spot. 
So  I  loved  him  dearly,  and  was  very  proud 
when  the  doctor  would  say,  as  we  sat  beside 
him: 

"  O-l-d  Sportum  is  my  g-r-e-a-t  b-i-g  bull- 
doggie,  and  Fairy  is  my  1-i-ittle  bull-dog- 

i " 
gie! 

Then  we  would  crowd  up  to  him  for  a 
hand-pat,  with  our  tails  wagging,  but  old 
Sportum  gave  me  the  first  place  in  every- 
thing. How  noble  it  was  in  him  to  be  so 
kind  to  me,  in  his  own  home,  when  I  came 
a  little  stranger. 

Then,  there  was  dear  old  Jimmy,  aunt 
Mary's  black  and  white  kitty,  who  was  just 
as  kind  and  loving  to  me  as  he  could  be,  and 
would  roll  and  tumble  and  frolic  from  room 
to  room,  just  to  amuse  me. 

He  would  lie,  sometimes,  between  old 
Sportum's  big  paws,  purring  away  under  his 
chin,  or  snuggled  close  against  his  white 
breast  in  a  round  black  ball.  Or  if  Spor- 
tum was  walking,  Jimmy  would  whisk  about 
his  forelegs,  in  and  out,  rubbing  his  silky 
length  caressingly  against  Old  Dog,  as  they 
often  called  him. 

And  he  soon  went  through  the  same  show 
278 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

of  love  for  me.  In  fact,  aunt  Mary  thought 
that  Jimmy  was  giving  me  full  more  than 
half  his  heart,  as  the  days  went  on ;  he  would 
"  Pur-r-r-a-me-ow ! "  so  loud  and  long  to 
find  me,  and  run  so  joyously  to  meet  me, 
even  though  I  took  the  stern  duty  upon  me 
of  chastising  him  for  playing  with  aunt 
Mary's  palms  and  ferns,  ever  after  I  saw 
her  snap  his  ears  for  doing  it.  He  knew  it 
was  wrong,  but  he  was  possessed  to  do  it 
whenever  her  back  was  turned,  and  the 
pretty  umbrella  plant,  in  particular,  he  was 
determined  to  nibble. 

After  I  heard  aunt  Mary  say,  —  "Jimmy, 
I  shall  not  allow  you  to  do  this  —  I've  got 
to  punish  you  every  time  I  catch  you  at  it!" 
I  took  the  whole  responsibility  of  guarding 
the  plants  upon  myself;  and  fond  as  I  was 
of  Jimmy,  whenever  he  forgot  himself,  and 
went  clawing  up  a  lovely  great  palm,  or 
nibbling  away  at  the  green  points,  I  pounced 
noisily  upon  him  and  pinched  his  black  tail 
with  an  indignant  high-pitched:  "mind 
what  you  are  about,  Jimmy!"  that  brought 
him  to  his  sober  senses,  and  made  aunt 
Mary  and  the  doctor  laugh  merrily  when 
they  were  within  earshot.  They  said 

279 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

there  was  a  little  smack  of  self-righteousness 
about  my  discipline;  but  such  big  words 
made  me  feel  all  the  more  important.  I 
own  up  to  hoping  aunt  Mary  would  hear 


the  little  fracas  and  come  hastily  in  to  add 
her  reproaches  to  mine,  as  she  often  did. 

But  Jimmy  knew  well  enough  that  down 

deep  in  my  heart  I  loved  him  dearly  too,  and 

from  those  winter  days  forth,  he  would  never 

leave  me.     Wherever  I  went,  his  little  white- 

280 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

nosed,  white-breasted,  white-mittened  figure 
went  gliding  after.  Wherever  I  slept,  he 
watched  and  waited  for  my  waking,  with 
his  plaintive  and  oft-repeated  "Pur-r-ra- 
me-ow!" 

I  began  to  be  happy  and  content,  because 
I  was  surrounded  by  love,  the  true  Heart's- 
ease.  Aunt  Mary  would  read  aloud  to  the 
doctor  mamma's  letters  all  about  the  won- 
derful lands  they  were  journeying  through, 
and  the  letters  always  ended  with  thanking 
them  both  for  all  the  love  and  care  they  were 
giving  her  little  Fairy,  and  sent  her  love  and 
papa's  to  me.  So  I  began  to  hope  I  should 
sometime  see  their  dear  faces  again,  but 
aunt  Mary  found  she  must  not  say  they 
were  coming,  because  I  watched  and  lis- 
tened so  intently  day  in  and  day  out. 

I  would  lie  in  the  big  reclining-chair  be- 
side her  while  she  made  beautiful  lace,  in 
the  long  winter  evenings,  and  I  slept  on  her 
arm  at  night.  When  the  early  spring  days 
came,  I  had  a  splendid  race  all  around  the 
garden  with  old  Sportum  every  morning; 
I  was  so  spry,  he  had  to  cut  across  lots  to 
catch  me. 

Sometimes  I  would  have  on  my  brown 

281 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

velvet  blanket  and  big  blue  bow,  and  go  up 
to  the  minister's  house,  and  around  the  little 
village  among  the  church  people,  with  aunt 
Mary.  I  would  caper  along  the  country 
road,  tossing  my  head  and  looking  back  at 
her,  to  see  if  she  were  coming,  and  she  found 
there  was  no  need  for  using  my  chain,  where 
all  was  so  safe. 

I  followed  the  doctor  around,  when  he 
was  planting  the  big  vegetable  garden,  for 
it  had  made  him  well  to  work  out  in  the 
bright,  fresh  air,  and  he  had  always  led  such 
a  busy  life,  he  loved  to  be  doing  something. 

The  singing  blue-birds,  the  red-breasted 
robins,  and  the  sweet  song-sparrows  flitted 
around  us,  coming  in  crowds  to  meet  the 
spring. 

"  The  voice  whose  welcomes  were  so  glad, 

Feet  pattering  like  summer  showers, 
The  dark  eyes  which  would  look  so  sad 
If  gathering  tears  were  dimming  ours. " 
ELIZABETH  CHARLES. 

The  sweet  mayflowers  had  come  and 
gone,  and  the  rosebuds  were  opening  their 
red  hearts  to  .the  warm  sunshine,  when,  one 
lovely  morning,  early  at  breakfast,  I  pricked 

282 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

up  my  little  brown  ears,  for  I  heard  aunt 
Mary  say : 

"Is  it  best  to  tell  her,  yet?" 

"Oh  yes,  I  think  so,"  answered  the  doc- 
tor, "for  if  all  went  well,  the  steamer  got 
into  New  York  yesterday  and  they  are  on 
their  way  here  now." 

They  thought  they  were  talking  low,  but 


I  caught  a  note  of  expectancy  in  their  voices. 
I  sprang  from  my  basket  and  laid  my  little 
fore  paws  on  the  doctor's  knee  and  looked 
in  his  face,  with  such  great,  eager,  question- 
ing eyes,  while  little  tremors  shook  my 
form,  that  he  said: 

"The  secret's  out,  aunt  Mary;  little  Fairy 
knows  what  we  are  talking  about;  she  knows 
her  papa  and  her  mamma  are  coming  home 
to-day!" 

283 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

Oh,  how  I  danced  about  then!  How  I 
flew  to  the  window;  how  I  listened  at  the 
door,  and  strained  my  eyes  to  watch  the  long, 
curving  driveway,  and  looked  out  to  the 
eastward  across  the  Cove,  where  I  had  seen 
them  disappearing,  so  many  months  before. 

"  It  would  be  dreadful  for  the  little  heart, 
now,  if  they  should  not  come,"  said  aunt 
Mary. 

So,  between  hope  and  fear,  we  watched 
and  waited.  The  clock  kept  telling  off  the 
hours,  more  than  I  could  count.  The  day 
was  almost  half  gone,  when,  suddenly,  there 
came  the  rattle  of  wheels  in  the  gravel  drive, 
-  a  carriage  was  approaching,  hidden  by 
the  shrubbery,  from  the  south  entrance. 

I  flew  through  aunt  Mary's  palms  and 
ferns,  I  never  knew  how,  and  pressed  my 
little  face  against  the  glass,  trembling  from 
head  to  foot,  my  eyes  big  with  anxious  ex- 
pectancy. 

I  couldn't  find  a  voice  to  bark,  my  feelings 
were  too  intense;  my  breath  came  with  little 
quivering  gasps. 

Yes!  Oh  yes!  A  lady  was  stepping 
from  the  carriage.  Was  it  mamma  ?  I  had 
never  seen  that  dress  nor  that  hat  before, 
284 


"  /  flew  through  Aunt  Mary's  palms  and  ferns.' 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

and  I  was  not  far-sighted,  but  the  moment 
she  turned  toward  the  house,  her  very  first 
movement  told  me,  and,  with  a  glad  cry,  I 
bounded  to  the  front  hall,  aunt  Mary  fol- 
lowing eagerly,  and,  before  the  door  could 
swing  wide  on  its  hinges,  I  was  in  mamma's 
arms  to  claim  a  thousand  kisses  and  caresses. 
The  long  lost  was  found !  But  with  a  sudden 
fear  at  my  heart,  I  stopped  and  looked  with 
searching  gaze  in  her  face. 

Where  was  my  dear  papa?  I  ran  back 
and  forth  between  her  and  the  door;  I  vi- 
brated between  joy  and  sorrow.  Aunt 
Mary  turned  the  same  look  of  swift  inquiry 
on  mamma,  as  soon  as  the  first  eager  greet- 
ing was  past. 

"He  is  here,"  said  mamma,  "but  we 
feared  it  would  be  too  much  for  little  Fairy, 
so  he  stayed  behind  at  the  driveway  en- 
trance with  the  doctor,  who  was  watching 
for  us  there." 

I  caught  at  her  meaning  and  cleared  the 
steps  with  a  bound,  just  in  time  for  papa, 
who  was  hurrying  up,  to  catch  me  in  his 
welcoming  arms,  while  I  went  all  over  him, 
kissing,  crying,  quivering  with  delight.  And 
so  we  were  all  re-united. 

287 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

"  I  was  afraid  her  little  heart  might  burst 
for  very  joy,  if  we  both  came  upon  her  at 
once,"  said  papa. 

This  was  a  parting  which  had  a  happy 
ending;  and  when  the  island  home  was 
opened,  there  were  many  welcoming  guests 


and  many  curios  from  foreign  lands  which 
papa  and  mamma  had  brought  home.  I 
sniffed  them  with  my  long,  keen-scented 
nose  and  knew  they  came  from  the  lands 
where  the  far-away  letters  did. 

I  sat  in  one  of  the  old  Damascus  chairs, 
inlaid  with  pearl,  to  have  my  picture  taken 
288 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

for  you.  Old  Damascus!  Where  Saint 
Paul  was  going,'  mamma  said,  when  he  met 
the  Christ,  who  turned  him  from  his  cruel 
purpose  toward  men.  You  think  He  never 
showed  Himself  in  pity  to  a  humble  little 
creature  like  me,  but  you  must  not  be  too 
sure. 


289 


CHAPTER  XIX 


"O  FAITHFUL  follower,  O  gentle  friend, 
If  thou  art  missing  at  the  journey's  end, 
AYhate'er  of  joy  or  solace  there  I  find 
Unshared  by  thee  I  left  so  far  behind, 
The  gladness  will  be  mixed  with  tears,  I  trow, 
My  little  cronie  of  the  long  ago. 
For  how  could  heaven  be  home-like  with  the  door 
Fast-locked  against  a  loved  one  ever  more  ?  " 
(By  Permission.}  RICHARD  BURTOX. 


I    CLUNG  to  mamma  closer  than  ever 
now.     I  never  wished  to  see  those  dread- 
ful trunks  and  bags  with  their  foreign 
labels.     The  sight  of  the  necessary  packing, 
in  going  to  and  from  our  city  home,  made 
me  ill  with  fear,  and  something  seemed  to 
lay  heavy  on  mamma's  heart,  for  one  soft 
spring  evening,  when  we  had  gotten  back  to 
the  island  home,  she  said  to  papa: 

"I  shall  never  leave  little  Fairy  again  so 
long  as  she  is  spared  to  me.     She  shall  never 
watch  and  wait  for  me,  in  this  world,  any 
more." 
290 


She  could  see  a  sad,  mysterious  something  in 
my  brown  eyes" 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

I  gave  a  little  quivering  sigh,  as  I  lay  on 
her  arm  and  crept  closer  to  her  heart.  She 
could  see  a  sad,  mysterious  something  in 
my  brown  eyes,  that  no  words,  —  no  human 
words,  could  express.  The  shadow  of  part- 
ing lay  heavy  and  dark  on  my  sensitive 
spirit,  despite  her  comforting  words,  and 
the  shadow  grew  deeper. 


They  took  me  to  ride  often,  behind  dear, 
gentle  Don  and  Dora,  whose  chestnut  coats 
glistened  in  the  bright  sunshine,  as  we  spun 
along  through  the  green  wood,  or  over  the 
white  shell  road  overlooking  such  lovely 
views  of  the  blue  shimmering  sea,  with  its 
fleet  of  snowy  sails,  because  I  loved  riding 
so.  I  tried  to  be  brave  and  cheery,  - 

293 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

but  a  dull  pain  was  growing  in  my  little 
breast. 

I  had  slipped  and  fallen  across  the  car- 
riage step  some  years  before,  and  hit  hard 
on  its  iron  edge;  but  the  injury  did  not  show 
as  anything  serious  for  a  long  while.  Now, 
however,  it  grew  rapidly  worse,  and  despite 
my  best  efforts  to  mingle  with  the  life  and 
pleasures  of  the  household,  mamma's  anx- 
ious eyes  saw  I  was  hiding  my  suffering. 
Papa's  face  was  very  sad,  when  she  told  him 
her  grave  fears,  and  they  called  a  kind  and 
skilled  veterinary  surgeon  from  the  adjoin- 
ing town.  He,  too,  shook  his  head  gravely, 
when  he  examined  my  ailment,  and  said: 

"I  fear  I  can  do  nothing;  she  is  too  deli- 
cately organized  to  survive  the  treatment, 
even  if  there  were  a  chance  of  cure,"  and  he 
added  in  a  low  voice: 

"Madam,  I  must  tell  you  I  have  never 
been  able  to  save  a  little  dog,  after  that  sad, 
haunted  look  comes  into  their  beautiful 
eyes.  There  is  something  very  strange  and 
mysterious  about  it;  they  can  read  fate  and 
the  future  far  better  than  we;  and  I  must 
say,  used  to  these  things  as  I  am,  as  a  sur- 
geon for  many  years,  the  look  that  many  a 
294 


YOURS   WITH  ALL   MY   HEART 

tender  household  pet  has  given  me,  when 
they  have  lain  down  under  an  operation, 
never  to  wake  again,  has  haunted  me  for 
many  a  day.  No,  madam,  you  love  her 
too  well, --I  must  be  frank  with  you." 

Papa  thanked  him,  in  a  sad  voice,  as  he 
drew  rein  at  the  station,  and  the  kind 
stranger  stepped  aboard  the  departing  train. 
I  had  heard  his  prophetic  words,  but  I 
knew  it  all  before. 

But  my  own  dear  doctor,  who  had  asked 
for  this  consultation,  said  he  could  not  bear 
to  give  me  up  without  every  effort  to  save 
me  by  milder  means. 

I  had  seen  him,  so  often,  tenderly  bind  the 
broken  wing  of  some  poor  bird,  and  that  of 
Dandy  Jim,  the  black  crow,  when  the  gale 
once  caught  him,  with  his  feathers  dripping 
wet,  in  the  oak  tree,  and  tore  and  broke  his 
poor  wing.  The  doctor  whittled  two  nice 
little  braces  of  light  pine  and  dressed  and 
bound  it,  so  it  got  well  and  handsome  as  ever. 
I  had  seen  him  sew  and  dress  old  Sportum's 
wounds,  and  even  those  of  his  enemy,  when 
he  had  gotten  into  a  mdlee  beyond  his  years, 
in  defence  of  me.  Sportum  wouldn't  even 
own  he  was  sorry,  not  even  when  the  sharp 

295 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

needle  was  stitching  through  the  ragged 
edges  of  his  wound,  and  the  doctor  saw  it  in 
his  eyes,  and  said: 

"I  believe  you'd  do  it  right  over  again, 
you  old  rascal,  you!" 

Sportum  was  just  saucy  enough  to  thump 
out:  "Yes,  I  would!"  with  three  sharp  raps 
of  his  tail,  which  was  the  only  part  he  could 
move  while  he  was  being  sewed  up,  and  he 
gave  me  a  sly  wink  out  of  the  corner  of  his 
eye. 

I  had  seen  the  doctor,  too,  leave  his  busy 
cares  to  row  out  hastily  and  rescue  from  a 
watery  grave  a  fledgling  robin  who  had  es- 
sayed too  boldly  on  his  untried  wings.  So 
tenderly  did  he  feel  toward  every  little  living 
thing,  that  I  had  perfect  trust  in  him.  I 
had  heard  mamma  say: 

"  The  doctor  has  more  of  the  spirit  of  the 
Great  Physician,  who  healed  and  comforted 
by  the  sea  of  Galilee,  than  many  a  louder- 
mouthed  professor,  who  has  never  thought 
of  all  the  tender  creatures  outside  the  pale 
of  man,  nor  read,  between  the  lines  of  Holy 
Writ,  God's  constant  admonition  to  be  kind 
to  all  His  children,  even  His  little  four- 
footed  ones." 
296 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

So  my  little  heart  was  comforted ;  and  day 
by  day,  through  the  beautiful  June,  she  took 
me  in  the  carriage  to  the  skilful  friend,  whose 
hand  was  guided  by  a  true  and  tender  love 
for  me,  whose  every  touch  was  gentleness, 
and  whose  every  word  soothed  and  com- 
forted me,  in  my  sore  distress. 

"  Or  is  there  something  yet  to  come, 

From  all  our  science  still  concealed, 
About  the  patient  creature  dumb 
A  secret  yet  to  be  rerealed  ? 

"A  happy  secret  still  behind 

Yet  for  the  mute  creation  stored 
Which  suffers,  though  it  never  sinned, 
And  loves  and  toils  without  reward?" 
ELIZABETH  CHARLES. 

I  would  hurry,  of  my  own  accord,  into  my 
dear  doctor's  office-room,  while  old  Spor- 
tum  and  the  handsome  new  dog,  Donnie, 
with  his  shining  brown-and-black  brindled 
coat,  with  white  dress  front,  and  four  white 
stockings,  sat  sorrowfully  by. 

I  would  climb  on  his  table,  and  lie  down 
upon  my  back  before  the  doctor,  and  fold 
my  little  fore  paws  across  my  heart,  so  pa- 
tiently, and  look  up  in  his  face  with  such 

297 


YOURS    WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

faith  and  trust,  and  kiss  the  hand  that  sought 
to  aid  me,  though  it  had  to  give  me  pain, 
that  often  his  eyes  were  dim  with  tears  as 
he  dressed  my  wounded  breast,  and  aunt 
Mary  and  poor  mamma,  who  sat  beside  to 
aid  him,  could  not  restrain  their  own. 


Aunt  Mary  had  made  me  three  pretty 
little  harnesses  of  white  strapping,  with 
small  gilt  buckles,  to  hold  the  dressing  in 
place,  because  she  said  I  was  too  beautiful 
to  wear  anything  unsightly,  and  every  day 
I  had  on  a  fresh  one.  When  the  dressing 
was  nearly  complete,  the  doctor  would  say: 

"Little  Fairy  will  never,  never  scold  her 
298 


dear  old  doctor,  'cause  she  knows  he  can't 
help  hurting  a  little  bit.  Now  the  doctor's 
going  to  say  Roily-poly!  pretty  soon,  pretty 


soon. 


Thus  his  playful  words  helped  me  bear 
the  long  ordeal,  for  I  knew  he  was  about  to 
roll  me  gently  over,  and  buckle  the  last  little 
gilt  buckle.  Then  I  would  spring  on  my 
feet  and  put  my  little  arms  around  his  neck, 
in  joyful  gratitude,  and  try  to  smile  through 
my  pain,  out  of  my  great  brown  eyes. 


299 


CHAPTER  XX 


"  UK  knows,  who  gave  that  love  sublime, 
And  gave  that  strength  of  feeling  great, 
Above  all  human  estimate." 

WILLIAM  WORDSWORTH. 


BUT,  in  spite  of  all  that  those  who  so 
dearly  loved  and  so  earnestly  sought 
to    save  me   could    do,   my   strength 
failed  as  the  hot  summer  days  drew  on  apace 
and  my  hold  on  this  beautiful  world  was 
loosening.     I  had  made  a  long,  brave  fight 
for  life. 

Poor  mamma  wratched  and  tended  me 
day  after  day;  she  had  no  heart  for  the  sails, 
the  rides,  the  laughter  of  her  guests,  since  I 
could  take  no  part  with  them.  Early  and 
late  she  strove  to  ease  my  pain,  and  papa 
strove  to  help  her. 

I  would  lie  on  my  pillow  beside  her  at 
night,  and  look  out  on  the  lonely  sea,  that 
seemed  to  lead  so  far,  far  awray  in  the  moon- 
light, and  try  to  bear  my  pain  and  loneliness 
300 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

while  mamma  slept  for  a  few  brief  hours; 
but  sometimes,  when  the  pain  and  loneli- 
ness grew  too  great  to  bear,  I  would  touch 
her  cheek  softly  with  my  little  paw  and  give 
just  the  gentlest,  saddest  cry  to  waken  her, 
for  I  could  not  even  turn  now  without  her 
help. 

She  would  waken  quickly  and  arise,  and 


strive  with  all  her  power  to  ease  my  suffer- 
ing. Often  she  would  take  me  in  her  arms, 
and  go  out  and  walk  slowly  with  me,  in  the 
cool  of  the  summer  midnight.  I  loved  to 
drag  my  little  faltering  steps  to  the  lily-pond 
and  the  fountain,  and  moisten  my  parched 
throat  with  the  sweet  waters  I  loved  so  well. 
Or,  again,  to  stand  in  the  moonlight,  under 
the  great  crimson-rambler  roses  by  the  stone 

301 


YOURS  WITH   ALL   MY  HEART 

well-house,  and  as  their  crimson  shower  of 
falling  blossoms,  shaken  by  the  night  winds, 
fell  over  my  little  fawn-like  figure,  like  a  sad 
prophecy,  poor  mamma's  heart  would  ache, 
as  though  its  own  ruby  drops  were  falling. 
She  had  learned  to  love  me  so  in  the  thir- 


teen sweet  years  that  my  every  heart-beat 
had  been  for  her  and  papa,  and  the  dear 
friends  who  had  shown  me  affection.  My 
wistful  eyes  strained  long  over  every  depar- 
ture; my  watchful,  silken  ears  rose  and  fell 
at  sound  of  every  approaching  footstep ;  my 
airy,  dancing,  caressing  welcome  was  for 
every  glad  return. 
302 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

She  thought,  too,  with  sad  foreboding, 
how,  in  the  beginning  of  my  illness,  four 
blood-red,  molten  spikes,  from  the  drift- 
wood fire,  had  fallen,  welded  in  a  perfect 
cross,  on  the  hearth-stone  of  Island  Haven, 
-  could  it  presage  the  loss  of  my  faithful, 
loving  presence? 


No,  no,  dear  hearts!  Love  is  immortal, 
if  invisible.  Although,  in  that  beautiful 
Sabbath  morning,  when  the  rosy  dawn  was 
suffusing  sea  and  sky,  and  rested  like  a  bene- 
diction on  the  two  homes,  I  folded  my  meek 
little  fore  paws  over  my  snow-white  breast, 
and  looked  with  long,  tender  farewell  into 

303 


YOURS   WITH   ALL   MY   HEART 

your  tearful  eyes,  and  my  faithful  spirit 
fluttered  out  into  the  Unknown  Country, 
still,  am  I  so  far  away  ?  Can  love  like  mine 
ever  sleep  the  sleep  of  forgetfulness,  or 
death  ?  Will  it  not  watch,  and  wait,  and 
hope  for  you  ? 


"  Into  the  Unknown  Country" 


304 


EPILOGUE 


"  Where  does  the  true  Shekinah  shine  ? 
Not  far  away.     That  Love  doth  brood 
O'er  lives  the  lowliest  and  most  rude. 
An  angel's  song,  a  bird-note  clear, 
Rise  to  the  same  all-listening  ear." 
(By  Permission.)  MRS.  MARY  JOHNSON. 


THAT  little  form  was  laid  in  her  snow- 
white  basket,  whiter  with  interwoven 
flowers.  Too  beautiful,  too  dear,  she 
seemed,  to  pass  from  sight,  as  they  lowered 
her,  on  her  bed  of  blossoms,  by  the  long  white 
ribbons  to  the  pretty  cedar  house  her  dear 
doctor  had  builded  with  his  own  hands.  Be- 
cause she  loved  Sportum's  house  so  well, 
he  had  builded  it  just  like  it,  for  he  could 
not  bear  to  see  that  lovely  form  laid  in  the 
common  earth. 

That  little  grave  was  lined  with  soft  green 
ferns,  and  the  twenty-four  pitying  guests  of 
Island  Haven  gathered  around,  and  each 
cast  a  mist-white  amaranthus  flower  upon 
that  fawn-like  sleeper;  one  there  was  who 

305 


EPILOGUE 

laid  a  sweet  white  rose  in  the  little  folded 
arms. 

Then  a  real  servant  of  God  broke  silence, 
and  told  how  many  of  the  noblest  song-sing- 
ers of  this  world  had  paid  tribute  to  lives 
just  like  hers,  —  Byron,  Scott,  Browning, 
as  well  as  later  poets  without  number,  whose 
hearts  had  been  moved  by  the  undying  love 
and  gratitude  of  some  one  of  her  humble 
race,  when  the  friends  of  their  own  had 
turned  false  or  cold. 

He  closed  with  his  own  tender  lines  on  her 
faithful  life,  as  they  laid  her  sleeping  form  to 
rest  by  the  watching  Hebe  of  the  fountain, 
by  the  heart-shaped  lily-pond,  in  the  very 
spot  where  she  had  run  so  often  with  joyous 
feet  to  pose  for  a  picture. 

A  fair-haired  child  stood  there  and  wept 
with  them,  and  many  a  day,  from  that  hour 
to  this,  she  has  gathered  the  sweet  wild 
flowers  and  laid  the  last  pale  roses  of  sum- 
mer on  that  little  grave. 

From  that  day  to  this,  that  loving  pres- 
ence speaks  to  one  heart  through  all  God's 
gentle  creatures;  through  all  their  soft,  dark 
eyes  look  forth  eyes  softer,  brighter  still; 
every  glad  bird  song  sings  to  her  of  the  great 
306 


t 


EPILOGUE 

all-encircling  Heart,  that  holds  and  restores 
all  that  is  good  and  beautiful  and  true. 

That  gentle  life  bore  its  sweet  mission 
well.  It  taught  all  whose  path  it  crossed 
that  love,  and  love  alone,  is  invincible;  for 


by  love  alone  it  opened  all  hearts  to  itself; 
it  was  all  it  had,  —  all  it  needed,  to  offer. 

In  those  days  of  pain  and  suffering,  who 
can  ever  forget  that  brave  example  of  pa- 
tience, and  perfect  trust,  and  obedience; 
how,  in  dying,  the  love-light  shone  forth 
undimmed  from  those  beautiful  eyes,  to  the 
last  little  fluttering  sigh  ?  Who  can  ponder 

309 


EPILOGUE 

well  and  not  be  led  to  ask,  whence  cameth 
and  whither  goeth  this  gentle  life  ? 

So,  one  who  can  never  forget,  listens  to 
the  matin  hymn  of  the  tiny  song-sparrow, 
trilling  forth  so  close  beside  that  little 
mound,  and  sees  that  dear  name  spring 
forth-  in  flowery  tracery  of  sweet  crocus 
bloom,  amid  the  soft  green,  above  that  little 
grave,  sleeping  in  the  sunshine,  and  is  com- 
forted. 

Fairy,  dear  little  Fairy!  He  who  created 
thy  faithful,  loving  heart,  He  who  watcheth 
against  the  sparrow's  fall  —  will  He  not 
watch  over  thee  ? 


310 


4Fairp'0  Requiem 

READ  AT  HER  GRAVE  BY  THE  AUTHOR 

THE  REVEREND  ALAN  HUDSON 

OUR   FRIEND   AND   GUEST   ON   THAT   SAD    DAY 


r 


"POOR  gentle  thing!  thy  life  at  last  is  ended, 

Thy  days  of  pain  and  weakness  over  —  past; 
With  higher  life  thy  little  heart  has  blended, 
While  softly  lies  thy  head  beneath  the  grass. 

"We  place  thee  here  beside  the  sunny  fountain, 
Where  o'er  thy  head  will  blow  the  breath  of 

June; 

The  limpid  waters  thou  did'st  lap  in  often 
W7ill  murmur  at  thy  grave  their  gentle  tune. 

"No  sombre   robe  thy  wounded   breast   shall 

burden, 

No  long  procession  bear  thee  to  the  sod; 
The  flowers  alone  shall  be  thy  loving  guerdon. 
The  murmuring  sea  thy  requiem  to  God. 


^A 

/ 


. 


- 


"Thy  little  life  was  like  a  summer  blossom, 

Unknown  to  men  who  passed  thee  idly  by; 
But  hearts  there  were  who  stooped  to  learn 

thy  lesson 
Of  friendship,  pure  and  constant  as  the  sky. 

"Thy  love  though  humble  never  knew  deception; 
Thy  tongue  though  speechless   ne'er  con- 
cealed a  lie; 

Thine  eyes,  as  soft  as  tinted  autumn  lichen, 
A  truth  revealed  that  was  not  born  to  die. 

"O  Thou  who  see'st  the  fall  of  sparrow  wounded. 
Whose  hand  in  pity  binds  the  bruised  reed, 
Teach  us  thy  law  in  all  creation  grounded  — 
Unselfish  love,  the  one  and  only  creed. 

"When   human   hearts  deceive  and   round   us 

deaden, 

When  human  lips  our  sacred  trust  betray, 
Help  us  to  stoop  in  humbleness  unbidden 
The  love  of  lowly  creature  to  essay. 


'We  cannot  part  the  curtain  of  the  Future, 

We  cannot  tell  what  lies  beyond  the  veil; 
We  only  hope  the  love  of  friendly  creature 
On  other  shores  may  evermore  avail. 

'  So,  little  friend,  we  lay  thee  down  at  sunset, 
As  fading  beams  play  softly  on  thy  breast; 
Alxmt  thy  weary  head  we  strew  the  flowerets; 
We  leave  thee  to  a  calm  and  perfect  rest. 

'  The  singing  birds  will  be  thy  boon  companions, 
The  lilies  fair  shall  bloom  beside  thy  grave; 

The  silver  sea  will  chant  its  solemn  stanions 
For  thy  young   life    so    gentle,   pure    and 
brave." 


"  '  /  CANNOT  think  thine  all  is  buried  here,' 

I  said  and  sighed  —  the  wind  awoke  and  blew 
The  morning  beam  along  the  gossamer, 

That  floated  o'er  thy  grave  all  wet  with  dew  ; 
A  hint  of  better  things,  however  slight, 

Will  feed  a  loving  heart ;  it  soothed  my  woe, 
To  watch  that  little  shaft  of  heavenly  light 
Pass  o'er  thee,  moving  gently  to  and  fro." 

CHARLES  TENNYSON  TURNER. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  Ut 


A    000051  199    8 


